Neymar pulled out of Brazil squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers

The Selecao have crucial games upcoming against Venezuela and Uruguay but they will have to make do without their injured star player.

Neymar has been withdrawn from the Brazil national team due to fitness issues, it was confirmed on Friday.

The forward arrived on national duty with a leg injury that he had suffered during a Champions League fixture with Paris Saint-Germain.

He was expected to miss the first World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Friday but it was hoped that the 28-year would recover in time for the second one.

However, the Brazil football federation has ruled out Neymar for next week’s clash against Uruguay in Montevideo.

“We were hopeful that he could play, that’s why we brought him to Brazil,” Brazil national team doctor informed reporters on Thursday.

“He improved but not enough so that he’ll be ready for the game on Tuesday against Uruguay. The backroom staff decided to release Neymar.”

Brazil will be missing several of their key players when they take to the pitch for the crunch clash in Sao Paulo on Friday as Philippe Coutinho, Fabinho, and Rodrigo Caio are also injured. Moreover, Eder Milito and Gabriel Menino were also ruled out after contracting COVID-19.