Neymar Ruled Out of Brazil World Cup Clash Against Haiti With Calf Injury
Brazil forward Neymar will not travel with the squad for their second World Cup group game against Haiti in Philadelphia on Friday, the Brazilian football association confirmed, as the 34-year-old continues to recover from a calf strain that has limited him to indoor training throughout the tournament.
The injury, sustained during Santos’ 3-0 defeat by Coritiba last month, has confined Neymar to rehabilitation work with physiotherapists and fitness coaches at the team’s base in New Jersey. The federation said he would remain there “to make the most of the final stage of his recovery, making use of the excellent facilities at The Ridge hotel and the Columbia Park training centre.”
The setback is the latest in a long line of physical difficulties for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, who has not played for Brazil in almost three years. Once regarded as the centrepiece of Brazilian football’s attacking identity, Neymar’s international career has been derailed by a succession of muscle injuries that have raised persistent questions about his durability at the highest level.
Brazil opened their World Cup campaign with a draw against Morocco, leaving them on one point in the group standings. Haiti, meanwhile, sit bottom of the group after losing to Scotland in their opening fixture. The South Americans will be expected to secure victory even without their talisman, though the absence deprives coach Dorival Júnior of a player whose creative influence remains difficult to replicate.
On Wednesday, Neymar was seen doing light drills with the squad after warming up separately in boots and with a ball, a brief appearance that offered a glimpse of his eagerness to contribute. However, the medical staff has taken a cautious approach, unwilling to risk a recurrence that could sideline him for the remainder of the tournament.
His continued absence places greater responsibility on the shoulders of younger attacking options, including Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, who will be expected to carry the creative burden against a Haitian side desperate to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Image Source: GHANAIAN TIMES
