Neymar has taken a significant step in his recovery from injury after returning to on-pitch training for the first time since joining Brazil’s World Cup camp in the United States.
The 34-year-old forward, who has been sidelined for a month with a right calf injury, trained on the sidelines on Tuesday as he continued his rehabilitation programme.
The Brazil Football Confederation (CBF) said Neymar “took another step in his recovery process” during the session at Brazil’s training base in Morristown, New Jersey.
Footage released by the CBF showed the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star carrying out running drills and working individually with a member of Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching staff.
Neymar was included in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite suffering the calf injury while playing for Santos on May 17. Since then, he had not returned to training until Tuesday’s session.
The five-time world champions began their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco on Saturday and are preparing for upcoming Group C matches against Haiti on Friday and Scotland on June 24.
Sources revealed on Monday that Neymar, who is still recovering from a Grade II muscle injury, underwent a repeat medical examination a week after his previous assessment. The results had yet to be officially confirmed by the CBF.
According to Brazilian media reports, the team’s medical staff are targeting a return for Neymar during the knockout stages of the tournament, a timeline that would rule him out of both Group C fixtures against Haiti and Scotland.
The injury setback is the latest in a difficult period for the Brazil forward. Neymar has not featured for the senior national team since October 17, 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during a South American World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in Montevideo.
Since that match, he has endured an extended spell on the sidelines. Data from Transfermarkt indicates he has spent approximately 700 days out of action due to injuries, rehabilitation and recovery periods.
Although Neymar was named among the substitutes for Brazil’s opening draw against Morocco, he was not dressed in team kit and did not participate in the match.
“Neymar is working very hard to recover as soon as possible,” Ancelotti said before that game on Saturday. “Our expectation is that he will recover and rejoin the group next week.
“When we included him in the roster, we added him for his technical abilities, which are indisputable. But we also want him for his experience and the example he sets for the young players on the team.”
Brazil will continue monitoring Neymar’s progress closely as they seek to secure a place in the knockout rounds and welcome back one of the most influential players in their squad.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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