Brazil face potential disruption to their World Cup plans after team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed Neymar has a grade-two calf injury and will be sidelined for up to three weeks, placing the forward’s participation in the group stage under serious doubt.

Neymar had been named in Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-player Brazil squad for FIFA’s flagship tournament, which is due to be the forward’s fourth World Cup, yet the latest injury means the all-time top scorer must now recover quickly to feature meaningfully in Qatar.

The inclusion of Neymar was already a major selection call from Ancelotti, as Chelsea forward Joao Pedro was the most notable omission, with Neymar chosen ahead despite not appearing for Brazil for almost three years after an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The 34-year-old’s current problem occurred during a 3-0 defeat against Coritiba on May 17, which forced Neymar to miss three subsequent matches, and although the forward initially believed the issue was minor, further assessment on national team duty produced a different picture.

Lasmar has made clear that Neymar will not feature in Brazil’s pre-World Cup friendlies against Panama and Egypt, and the opening Group C match against Morocco is also in serious doubt given the two to three-week recovery window outlined by the medical staff.

Explaining the situation, Lasmar said: “Neymar reported for duty yesterday here at Granja Comary, underwent all the medical tests, which concluded with an MRI scan revealing a grade-two calf injury, not just swelling. He is expected to be cleared in two to three weeks, Lasmar said.”

The Brazilian Football Confederation have already begun preparations at Granja Comary, sharing images from the first training day as the squad started ball work and physical tests, reflecting a structured build-up even as Neymar continues treatment away from full sessions.

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Brazil’s schedule places further pressure on Neymar’s recovery, as the Selecao also face Haiti on June 19 in Philadelphia, then complete their Group C campaign against Scotland five days later at Hard Rock Stadium, leaving limited time for a safe return to competitive action.

Neymar’s importance to Ancelotti is clear from the statistics, with 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, eight goals and three assists in 13 World Cup matches, and only Ronaldo Nazario, Pele and Jairzinho involved in more goals for Brazil on this stage.

The forward also shares a notable World Cup record, as Neymar is one of three players to score and assist in each of the last three tournaments, alongside former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Croatia’s Luka Modric, underlining why Brazil will monitor every step of the recovery.