Brazil's hopes for a strong start to their World Cup campaign have been dealt a blow with the confirmation that star forward Neymar will miss their opening match against Morocco on Saturday. Manager Carlo Ancelotti announced that the 34-year-old is still recovering from a calf injury and has not yet resumed full training with the squad.
Ancelotti indicated that the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain player is expected to commence training with the rest of the team next week. This timeline casts doubt on his availability for Brazil's second group stage fixture, scheduled for 20 June against Haiti. Brazil will conclude their group stage matches on 24 June when they face Scotland.
Speaking about Neymar's recovery, Ancelotti stated, "Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. The expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week." He further emphasised the forward's broader value to the team, adding, "When we call up Neymar, we call him not only for his technical quality, which is indisputable, but also for his experience and the example he can set for the young players in this group."
Neymar's selection for the World Cup came despite a recent history of injury struggles, which have seen him absent from the Selecao since 2023. His inclusion notably came ahead of other prominent forwards such as Chelsea's Joao Pedro and Tottenham's Richarlison. Neymar holds the distinction of being Brazil's record goalscorer, having surpassed Pelé's tally of 77 goals with his current count of 79 goals in 128 international caps.
Should he feature in the tournament, this would mark Neymar's fourth World Cup appearance, having previously represented Brazil at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions. His absence from the initial match underscores the challenges facing Brazil as they navigate the early stages of the competition without one of their most influential and experienced players.