The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed on Wednesday that Brazil’s number 10 did not take part in the national team’s first closed training session at Granja Comary. Instead, Neymar was sent to a private clinic in Teresopolis for imaging scans to assess the extent of the problem.
The federation said no additional details would be released until the medical staff completed their evaluation, but Neymar’s condition has already become a major concern for Brazil ahead of the tournament.
Brazil are continuing preparations for Sunday’s friendly match against Panama at the Maracana Stadium, with three more training sessions scheduled before the game. The team will then travel to face Egypt in Cleveland in their final warm-up fixture before opening their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is also without several key players for the Panama match. Defenders Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos, along with forward Gabriel Martinelli, remain unavailable as they prepare for Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Neymar’s return to the national team had sparked excitement among supporters after he was recalled to the squad last week. The Brazilian star had not featured for the national side since 2023 and had largely been absent from Ancelotti’s plans during the Italian coach’s first year in charge.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, Neymar has struggled with recurring injuries in recent years. Questions over his fitness and form intensified following a difficult period at Santos after returning to the club.
Earlier this month, Ancelotti made it clear that no player would be guaranteed a place in the squad based on reputation alone, insisting that selection would depend entirely on fitness and performance.
With the World Cup approaching, Brazil now await the results of Neymar’s medical scans as uncertainty grows over whether their biggest star will be ready for the tournament.
