Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Brasília, May 28: Brazil’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered an early setback on Wednesday as Neymar was unable to attend the national team’s first training session. The star forward missed the session due to medical examinations, raising fresh concerns about his fitness and availability for the upcoming international fixtures.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that Neymar is currently recovering from a calf muscle injury in his right leg. As part of his ongoing assessment and rehabilitation process, he did not participate in the closed-door training session held at Granja Comary, Brazil’s national team training center. The medical staff reportedly sent him to a private clinic in Teresópolis for imaging tests to determine the current status of his injury.

The CBF said that no further information will be released until the national team medical department completes its full evaluation of Neymar’s condition. Despite the brief nature of the statement, Neymar’s absence on the second day of Brazil’s training camp quickly became a major talking point, especially given his importance to the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup preparations.

Brazil are scheduled to hold three more training sessions at Granja Comary before their upcoming friendly match against Panama on Sunday at the Maracanã Stadium. The coaching staff is closely monitoring player fitness as they look to finalize their squad dynamics for the match and the broader preparation phase.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is already dealing with several absentees for the upcoming friendly. Defenders Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos, along with forward Gabriel Martinelli, are unavailable for selection. Their absence is linked to their involvement in the UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled for Saturday, which has impacted their availability for national duty.

With several key players missing and Neymar undergoing medical evaluation, Brazil’s early World Cup preparation phase has drawn significant attention, as fans and analysts closely watch the fitness status of their biggest star ahead of the global tournament.