Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has indicated that star forward Neymar is unlikely to feature in the national team's opening World Cup match against Morocco.
Speculation regarding Neymar's absence had already been circulating in the Brazilian media, and Ancelotti's recent comments during a press conference have further supported these doubts. The Italian manager revealed that Neymar is scheduled to resume team training next week, effectively ruling him out of the upcoming fixture against Morocco on Sunday. While Ancelotti did not state it directly, Brazilian outlet Globo has reported that the forward will indeed miss the match.
"Neymar is working very hard to recover as quickly as possible," Ancelotti said during the press conference. "We expect him to rejoin collective training next week."
Addressing questions about why Neymar was selected for the tournament despite his ongoing fitness struggles, Ancelotti explained that his value to the squad goes beyond his on-field performance.
"His inclusion isn't solely based on his exceptional technical ability," the coach noted. "His vast experience and his role as an inspiration to our younger players were also major factors in the decision."
Neymar has yet to train in football boots at Brazil's preparation camp in the United States. Although he has joined his teammates on the pitch for light running, he has spent most of his time undergoing physiotherapy. On Thursday night, the Santos forward shared photos of his gym rehabilitation sessions on social media.
Neymar's injury issues began on May 17 during a match for Santos FC against Coritiba, where he suffered a calf muscle problem. Although Santos initially described the injury as minor muscle swelling (edema), subsequent tests conducted after he joined the national team camp on May 27 revealed a grade-two calf strain.
Having already missed Brazil’s warm-up matches, Neymar’s absence from the tournament opener appears highly likely. In response, Ancelotti has been testing various combinations in recent training sessions.
Indications suggest that Brazil may field a starting lineup consisting of Alisson Becker in goal; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Alex Sandro in defense; Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães in midfield; with Lucas Paquetá, Matheus Cunha, Vinicius Junior, and Raphinha leading the attack.