Neymar suffered an injury setback this week, though, diagnosed with a a Grade 2 calf injury<\/a> that will sideline him for \u201ctwo to three weeks,\u201d according to the team\u2019s medical staff. Neymar will miss the final friendly against Egypt on Saturday as well, and it is unclear whether or not he will be healthy<\/a> for the Sele\u00e7\u00e3o\u2019s World Cup opener against Group C foe Morocco on June 13.<\/p>\n The calf injury is just the latest in a string of physical setbacks that have plagued Neymar\u2019s international career. The 34-year-old has not featured in canary yellow since Oct. 2023, suffering an ACL tear thereafter that ended his regular international participation. <\/p>\n Most recently, he required arthroscopy knee surgery in December, which sidelined him until February, missing club side Santos\u2019 first 12 matches of the season. As a result, Brazil manager Ancelotti snubbed him<\/a> for the March international window, deeming him unfit.<\/p>\n Will Neymar Play At the World Cup? Neymar will feature in his fourth World Cup this summer. | Carl De Souza\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Teams are allowed to make injury-related swaps to their rosters up until 24 hours prior to their first World Cup <\/a>match; however, Ancelotti is adamant that he won\u2019t make any changes to Brazil\u2019s squad<\/a> and affirmed that Neymar will remain.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect Neymar in the first World Cup match against Morocco; if he can\u2019t make it, we\u2019ll wait for the second game,\u201d Ancelotti said in a press conference on Saturday. \u201cWe\u2019re not swapping anyone out; the chosen players are these 26, and these 26 will play in the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n Although Neymar\u2019s roster spot is reserved\u2014and star forward Vinicius Jr has bestowed him with the legendary No. 10 jersey<\/a>, Neymar\u2019s place in the starting lineup is still heavily in question.<\/p>\n Ancelotti reportedly had a brutally-honest conversation with Neymar<\/a> prior to the roster selection, telling the former FC Barcelona legend that he would not be the captain nor guaranteed a starting spot. Neymar is said to have expressed a sincere willingness to oblige and operate within the national team in whatever capacity best serves the group, sentiments that solidified for Ancelotti that he would be called up instead of 24-year-old Chelsea forward Jo\u00e3o Pedro.<\/a><\/p>\n Should Neymar not be healthy enough to face Morocco at MetLife Stadium, he will hope to be ready for the match against Haiti on June 19 at Lincoln Financial Field. The Sele\u00e7\u00e3o conclude group play against Scotland on June 24 at Hard Rock Stadium. <\/p>\n![\"Neymar\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/01ksjjfvndpgbz70kvc3.jpg\" "\\"Neymar\\"")
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