Brazilian superstar Neymar has suffered another injury blow at Santos, just days after being included in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad.
The striker was diagnosed with a hamstring problem, immediately raising concerns about his readiness for the tournament to be held in North America.
Santos have confirmed that Neymar is suffering from a minor calf injury, after medical tests revealed a 2mm swelling in his right calf. The problem was announced by the club's medical department on Wednesday.
The timing is far from ideal for the 34-year-old, who only recently returned to the Brazil squad after a long recovery from a serious knee injury he suffered in 2023.
Neymar has already missed Santos' Copa Sudamericana clash with San Lorenzo and is expected to miss the upcoming league match against Gremio.
The striker is now in a race against time to recover before appearing in the Brazil squad on May 27. Both Santos and the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) are closely monitoring his progress.
Rodrigo Zogaib, Santos' chief medical officer, insisted the injury is not considered serious and expressed confidence that Neymar will be ready for Brazil next week.
"Neymar has a slight calf injury, some swelling. But, according to our planning, his progress will allow him to be ready next week, when he will join the national team," he declared. / Telegraph /
