Neymar out against Egypt, concern in Brazil | OneFootball

Neymar, sidelined with a calf injury, will remain in New Jersey to continue his recovery process and will not travel with the Brazil national team to Cleveland for Saturday’s friendly against Egypt, a warm-up for the 2026 World Cup. A CBF statement said that he will remain “under physiotherapy treatment and intensifying his physical recovery program.”

Santos’ No. 10, the standout name in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad list, arrived at the Seleção camp already injured after suffering a twinge in his right calf on May 17 in a Brasileirão match against Coritiba. At the time, his club downplayed the issue as “swelling” and Ancelotti included him in the 26-man squad the following day.

However, the Brazilian confederation wanted its own diagnosis and had the player undergo an MRI scan that confirmed a grade II muscle injury, with an estimated recovery time of two to three weeks. As of now, 18 days have passed, but he has already been definitively ruled out for the match, which would come on day 20.

Ney, 34, had already missed last Sunday’s friendly against Panama (6-2) at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium, where he watched the match from the bench, and with his absence against Egypt, he is consequently also doubtful for Brazil’s World Cup opener against Morocco the following Saturday, June 13, in New Jersey.

Since the start of the training camp on May 27, Neymar has trained mainly in the gym and has barely stepped onto the pitch except for light movement work. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his physical condition, Ancelotti guaranteed the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player’s presence at the World Cup, which begins in a week in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

“To be clear, he will be with us. We are completely sure that we are not going to replace anyone. The 26 players selected are these 26, and these 26 will play in the World Cup,” the Italian coach said.

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