Brazil's team doctor said Neymar was working hard to recover in time for the 2018 World Cup after the injury that ruled him out in the build-up to the tournament.
According to updates from the Brazilian medical staff at the time, the forward was following a structured rehabilitation plan and making steady progress, with optimism that he could reach the final preparation camp in a condition suitable for World Cup work.
Even with that optimism, the situation still depended on how well Neymar continued to respond to treatment and complete each phase of recovery, leaving medical supervision central to the final decision on his readiness.