Injured Neymar could miss Brazil's World Cup opener

Neymar is set to miss Brazil's opening FIFA World Cup match against Morocco on June 13 due to a calf injury, the Brazilian Football Confederation said on Thursday.

Neymar of Brazil kneels on the pitch and cries after the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group E match between Brazil and Costa Rica in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 22, 2018. Brazil won 2-0. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Scans at Brazil's training camp in Terespolis, near Rio de Janeiro, revealed the Santos forward has a grade-two calf muscle strain, requiring a recovery period of two to three weeks.

"Neymar reported for duty yesterday, underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade-two calf injury, not just swelling. He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks," Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 international matches, was initially diagnosed with swelling by Santos' medical staff after a 3-0 home defeat to Coritiba on May 17.

The 34-year-old last played for Brazil in October 2023, when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker has since struggled with injuries, managing only 17 goals in 38 appearances across all competitions after returning to boyhood club Santos in January last year.

Brazil will begin its World Cup Group C campaign against Morocco in New Jersey before meeting Haiti in Philadelphia and Scotland in Miami.

The tournament will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.