Neymar is expected to be back for the Brazil vs Scotland final World Cup group match, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The 34-year-old missed Brazil’s first two games, including the 3-0 win over Haiti, because of a right calf injury. But Ancelotti said that will change on Wednesday in Miami Gardens.
“Neymar will train individually tomorrow,” Ancelotti said after the Haiti match. “On Monday he will be with the team and he will be ready for the game against Scotland.”
He is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 129 appearances. He hasn’t fully trained with the squad since joining the World Cup camp on May 27 while still nursing the injury. He was back on the training field on Tuesday for the first time since then.
There’s been plenty of debate in Brazil about whether he should have been called up at all. He’s been struggling since tearing his ACL in his left knee in October 2023 during a World Cup qualifier. But this season with Santos, he’s scored four goals and added two assists in eight matches.
Vinicius Junior won his second straight Man of the Match award for Brazil. He made it clear how much Neymar means to the team.
“Neymar is a very important player for us. We hope he can play in the next match,” the Real Madrid star said. “He is my idol and has always given me a lot of support. I hope he comes back for the next game and helps us throughout the World Cup.”
Neymar would be playing in his fourth World Cup, having first appeared on home soil in 2014. Brazil are already through to the knockout stage after beating Haiti, but a win against Scotland would secure top spot in Group C.
Why Did Neymar Miss Brazil vs Haiti? Carlo Ancelotti Explains Injury Recovery Plan
Neymar missed Brazil’s second World Cup match against Haiti, just as he did against Morocco. The reason is a lingering calf injury.
The Brazilian football confederation announced on Thursday that Neymar wouldn’t travel with the squad to Philadelphia for the Haiti game. Instead, he stayed in New Jersey to focus on the final stage of his recovery. The 34-year-old Santos forward is continuing his rehab at the team hotel’s facilities.
He was back on the training field for the first time on Tuesday, doing physical conditioning exercises. He joined his teammates for parts of the session on Wednesday and got applause from them when he stepped onto the field. But he still hasn’t taken part in full training sessions with the rest of the squad.
The injury happened while playing for Santos on May 17. Tests on his right calf were done on Monday to check his progress. Brazil’s plan is to have him fully fit for the knockout stages, which means he could miss all group games, including the Scotland match on June 24. How the team performs on the pitch will also play a part in that decision.
There’s been a lot of debate in Brazil about whether Neymar should have been called up at all. Coach Carlo Ancelotti defended the decision, saying: “Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible. When we called up Neymar, we did it not just because of his technical quality, which is undeniable. But also because of his experience, he could represent an example for the younger players on the team.”
Brazil started their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, and Neymar’s absence has been felt. But the coaching staff is taking a cautious approach to ensure he’s ready when it matters most.
FAQs
Q. Why did Neymar miss Brazil’s first two World Cup matches?
A. Neymar missed the matches because of a right calf injury.
Q. When is Neymar expected to return?
A. Neymar is expected to return against Scotland.
Q. How many goals has Neymar scored for Brazil?
A. Neymar has scored 79 goals for Brazil.
Q. How many World Cups has Neymar played in?
A. Neymar is expected to play in his fourth World Cup.
Q. What does Brazil need to do to finish top of Group C?
A. Brazil need to beat Scotland to secure first place in the group.
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