Neymar injury doubt casts shadow over Brazil recall hopes

He will miss Santos' Brazilian Championship match against Mirassol

SANTOS:

Neymar will miss Santos' Brazilian Championship match against Mirassol on Tuesday with lingering muscle fatigue, dealing a fresh blow to the forward's hopes of ​forcing his way back into Brazil's squad ahead of the World Cup.

Santos ‌said Neymar's absence was precautionary but the timing is awkward, with Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti having organised a trip from Rio de Janeiro to Sao Paulo to watch the 34-year-old in action.

Sources linked ​to the Brazilian FA (CBF) and the national team's technical committee told Reuters ​Neymar's omission from Tuesday's match was met with surprise and frustration by ⁠the CBF and Ancelotti, who had hoped to assess the number 10 up close.

Ancelotti ​has made it clear he will only select players who are fully fit and ​can meet Brazil's physical demands. Missing Tuesday's match could cost Neymar a place in the national team squad being announced on March 16 for friendlies against France and Croatia on March 26 and ​31.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not played ​for his country since October 2023, when he suffered serious knee ligament injuries that have hampered ‌his ⁠comeback.

Since returning to boyhood club Santos from Saudi Arabia in January 2025, he has shown flashes of his old form but has struggled to string together a consistent run of matches.

Brazil's attacking options include several in-form players such as Vinicius Jr, Estevao, Raphinha, ​Joao Pedro, Gabriel Martinelli, ​Endrick, Igor Jesus ⁠and Matheus Cunha.

Ancelotti will continue with his visit to avoid the impression that he was just going to see Neymar, although that ​was the principal reason for travelling.

Neymar is expected to be ​available for ⁠Sunday's match against Corinthians at Vila Belmiro. However, Ancelotti will attend Botafogo v Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro that day, with his assistant coaches assigned to monitor the Corinthians game.

Time ⁠seems to ​be running out for Neymar with Brazil set ​to make their final World Cup call-up in May, with the finals being held in Canada, Mexico and ​the U.S. from June 11 to July 19.