Neymar will miss Brazil’s final pre-World Cup friendly against Egypt. The talismanic striker has struggled with injuries this season but he was still backed by manager Carlo Ancelotti in the team’s squad for the quadrennial event.
The Brazilian federation confirmed Neymar would not be part of the squad heading to Cleveland, and would stay put at the team’s training base in New Jersey to continue treatment on a calf problem.
The Santos striker has struggled to return to top fitness since he tore his left ACL in October 2023. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals.
“He has improved his fitness,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said earlier at a news conference in Rio de Janeiro when he had announced the final squad. “He will be an important player in this World Cup.”
The coach added that he wanted players with experience, including Neymar, for some spots in his squad.
“He has experience in this kind of competition, the love of our group; he can create a better environment in this group. We chose Neymar not because we think he’ll be a good substitute. We chose Neymar because we believe he can help the team, whether it’s for one minute, five minutes, 90 minutes or even taking a penalty,” Ancelotti added.
Brazil will start their World Cup campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13 with further group games against Haiti and Scotland on June 19 and June 24.
Brazil’s World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Éderson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio)
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibañez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paquetá (Flamengo)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth)
