Overview
- Brazil reported that Neymar took a further step in his recovery with on‑pitch conditioning and some ball contact after fresh clinic tests, a development shown in CBF footage on Tuesday.
- The federation and coaching staff have not cleared him for full training and he is not expected to play in Brazil’s next group game on Friday against Haiti.
- Medical sources and Brazilian media say the team is managing a grade‑2 right calf strain sustained on May 17 and are prioritising a fit return for the World Cup knockout rounds rather than rushing a group‑stage comeback.
- Coach Carlo Ancelotti has publicly defended including Neymar in the 26‑man squad for his technical and leadership value even as staff balance selection, tactics and match load without him on the field.
- Neymar’s long recent layoff—he has missed most national team action since an ACL/meniscus injury in October 2023—keeps the medical team cautious and makes further imaging and daily assessments the decisive factors for any accelerated return.