Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti is optimistic that Neymar will recover from his calf injury ahead of the FIFA World Cup next month. Although Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, has not been part of Ancelotti's plans during the coach's tenure, he has been included in the final squad for the tournament.

Neymar's Injury Status

Unfortunately, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced that Neymar would miss the warm-up matches against Panama and Egypt due to his injury. Ancelotti explained that prior to the squad announcement, they received a report from Santos indicating that Neymar was dealing with a minor issue involving some swelling. The coaching staff decided to allow Santos to manage the situation until the 27th, after which the CBF took over.

Positive Outlook for Recovery

Despite the setback, Ancelotti remains hopeful about Neymar's recovery timeline. He stated, “He’s working well, and he’s in good spirits … We believe he can be ready for the first World Cup match. If he’s not ready for the first match, he’ll be ready for the second.” The coach emphasized that there are no plans to replace Neymar in the squad.

Neymar made history during the 2022 World Cup by breaking the legendary Pele's record for the most goals scored for Brazil. However, Brazil's campaign ended in disappointment as they were eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals. As the most successful team in World Cup history, having lifted the trophy five times, Brazil will be looking to reclaim the title after their last victory in 2002. In the upcoming tournament, they will compete in Group C against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland from June 11 to July 19.