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Brazil Will Hold Neymar Back for World Cup Knockout Phase

Conservative testing with a staged rehab plan aims to protect his long‑term fitness rather than risk a rushed group‑stage return.

Overview

  • Neymar has been recovering from a grade‑2 right calf strain sustained on May 17 while playing for Santos and was ruled out of pre‑tournament friendlies.
  • Brazil's medical staff carried out fresh clinic tests on Monday and have not publicly released the results while shifting their internal target to the knockout rounds.
  • The Brazilian FA confirmed Neymar did on‑field physical work and made limited contact with the ball in a closed session on Tuesday but he has not joined full tactical drills.
  • Coach Carlo Ancelotti kept Neymar in the 26‑man squad and stressed his leadership value even as the team prepares to play Haiti without him on Friday.
  • The cautious approach forces Brazil to rely on other attackers for the group stage and preserves Neymar as a possible later option, with his match fitness and re‑injury risk to determine any return.