RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 17: Neymar of Brazil in action during the Men's Semifinal Football match between Brazil and Honduras at Maracana Stadium on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Brazilian soccer star Neymar has said he is optimistic about being able to return from his injury to play in this summer’s FIFA World Cup.
The 26-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward had surgery on a broken foot bone, which he injured in a game against Marseille on February 25. He has not played since then.
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Neymar said, however, that he will return to training on May 17 and that he hopes he will subsequently be available for Brazil’s opening World Cup game against Switzerland, which will be played June 17 in Russia.
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“I hope to get there in great shape,” Neymar said. “I get my final examination on 17 May and then I’ll be free to play,” he stated at a press conference in Sao Paulo, where he is being treated.
“I had an examination last week, it is all perfect, evolving well, so I hope that continues so I can get back as soon as possible.
“I am having treatment every day, and from the moment I start training I am going to work harder than I ever worked because this is a dream that’s coming up. It’s a World Cup. I’ve waited four years for this chance, it’s close.”
Neymar signed with PSG in August 2017 after playing four years with Barcelona. The five-year deal he inked with the French club was for 222 million euros (about $275 million at today’s rate), a contract whose value broke the world record for any soccer player.
This season, Neymar has scored 25 goals and added 16 assists for PSG.
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Neymar played for Brazil in the 2014 World Cup in his home country. However, he sat out the national team’s embarrassing 7-1 semifinals loss to eventual champions Germany due to injury.
Brazil will face Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia in the group stage at this year’s World Cup.
Paris St-Germain defeated Monaco 7-1 on Sunday to win the French Ligue 1 title, but Neymar reportedly did not attend his team’s home victory. PSG also defeated Caen 3-1 in the French Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
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