Neymar limps out of Brazil training to hand five-time winners fresh World Cup 2018 worry

Neymar (in short) leaving training. [Photo/Courtesy]

Brazil chiefs are once more sweating on the fitness of Neymar after the Selecao talisman limped out of training on Tuesday.

The Paris Saint-Germain star has recently recovered from a broken foot to take his place in the Selecao's finals squad.

After two appearances in warm up wins over Croatia and Austria, the £200million forward played all 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Sunday evening.

But when Tite's side returned to full training at their training base on Tuesday, Neymar was unable to complete the session.

A spokesman then blamed 'the large number of fouls committed on him in Switzerland game' for his discomfort.

Neymar had originally looked in relaxed mood during the warm ups, smiling and joking with teammates.

Neymar (C) trains with teammates before getting injured. [Photo/Courtesy]

But as the squad split off into groups to do more ball work with the now-familiar 'rondo' exercise, Neymar quickly became discomforted by a pain in his right foot, moments after stretching to block an attempted pass.

It appeared innocuous, before he attempted to continue with the exercise, but soon succumbed to the pain and left the session early, being led away by team physio Bruno Mazziotti.

The Brazil camp claim it is an ankle issue, but it is the same foot in which Neymar suffered a fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle during PSG's win over Marseille back in February and which kept him out of action for three months.

"He was feeling pain thanks to the large number of fouls he suffered in the Switzerland game," a spokesman told reporters.

"He complained of pain and so he went to physio and he will train normally tomorrow."

That ended his club campaign and saw the 26-year-old race to get fit for the finals.

Brazil face Costa Rica at the weekend in their second game of the tournament and will hope that their current top scorer, with 55 goals in 86 games, is OK and ready for action.

Four years ago, Neymar's tournament was also ended by injury, after he suffered a fractured vertebra in the quarter-final win over Colombia.

Ulimately however that derailed the Selecao's hopes of a sixth crown, with an overly-emotional side thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the last four.