Neymar sent a scare through Brazil’s national team camp when he left a training session early with a knee problem. On Tuesday, the 27-year-old limped off the Granja Comary training pitch in Teresopolis, around 100km north of Rio, after awkwardly striking the ball with his left foot. 
Television footage showed the Paris Saint-Germain forward clutching his left knee and grimacing while being assessed by medical staff. The Globo newspaper reported that initial scans showed no serious damage to the knee, but Neymar will remain under observation according to Brazil’s Football Confederation.
Neymar appeared to be in pain after attempting a shot under pressure from defender Thiago Silva and limped away before crouching down and holding his knee. He left the field soon after alongside Brazil’s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar. 
The incident came just 17 days before the start of the Copa America, to be played in Brazil for the first time since 1989. 
The hosts will begin their campaign against Bolivia before also facing Peru and Venezuela in the group stage.
The five-time World Cup champions will prepare for the tournament with friendlies against Qatar on June 5 and Honduras four days later.  Brazil have not won the title since 2007. 
Neymar had been fully involved in the squad’s activities since arriving at the national team’s training ground on Saturday, but it was announced on Sunday while the players were on a day off that he had lost the captaincy of the national team, with veteran teammate Dani Alves taking the armband.
Right back Alves, who has 138 caps for Brazil, was informed of his new role on Sunday. The 36-year-old has captained his country on four previous occasions, the last of which was a 1-0 friendly victory over Germany in 2018. 
Brazil coach Tite had named Neymar permanent captain a few months after Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of Belgium last year, but has been under pressure to replace the 27-year-old due to his disciplinary issues.
Neymar was banned for three matches by the French football authorities earlier this month for hitting a fan after PSG’s French Cup final loss to Stade Rennes, and was also reportedly involved in a dressing fracas with his PSG teammates. Tite informed him on Saturday that he would not captain Brazil at the Copa America, the CBF said.