When is Neymar back at PSG from the World Cup?

PSG are one of the teams that will suffer the most until all of their players are back from the World Cup. Brazil couldn't make it past the quarter-finals in a very disappointing tournament for them. When is Neymar, the PSG legend, expected back?

PSG superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe brought down the World Cup curtain last Sunday in impressive fashion.

The World Cup final, pitting Argentina and France against each other, wasn't an exciting one until Mbappe decided to make things interesting, although ultimately it was Argentina's third triumph at the World Cup and Messi's first ever.

It was, also, one of (if not the) the greatest World Cup finals ever played.

Will Neymar be available for PSG against Strasbourg on December 28th?

Brazil, led by Marquinhos on defense and Neymar on offense, got eliminated in the quarter-finals round by Croatia.

The PSG legend received harsh criticism after not even getting to the penalty spot in the final shootout. Neymar was expected to kick the fifth and final penalty, but with Marquinhos missing his shot before the fifth attempt Neymar never got the chance to kick one himself.

The ultimate decision of when returning players make it back to the field will come down to Christophe Galtier, and all will be allowed to stay away from Paris for at least the 10-day permission they were officially given by the staff members of the club.

It is still unknown when Neymar will be returning to Paris. His teammate Marquinhos will do so next Thursday, December 22nd. The Brazilian defender, aged 28, was given a little bit more room as the captain of PSG. Neymar (30) will enjoy the same benefit, even more considering he injured his ankle through the tournament and that should worry PSG going forward.

PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, is believed to have discussed the return of Brazil internationals Neymar and Marquinhos, giving them a little bit more room knowing the impact of getting eliminated by Croatia in the World Cup quarter-finals might have had in them.

That "mental impact" is not quite there for Neymar judging by the latest reports coming from Brazil. According to information published in reputed sites such as The Mirror, Neymar "held a secret party at his sister’s house in Sao Paulo in the aftermath of Brazil’s exit from the World Cup." That happened just days after Brazil was eliminated from the tournament.

On that same note, The Mirror mentions Manchester United forward Antony as one of those attending Neymar's party in Sao Paulo. Hours later, footage and pictures leaked, confirming those early reports and showing Antony partying in the house. Too much for sadness...

Neither Marquinhos nor Neymar is expected to play on Dec. 28 against Strasbourg as they have yet to return and train for a few days. They would probably not feature for the full 90 minutes against RC Lens on Jan. 1 either as they have still to come back and get ready and fit enough to play those many minutes.

PSG has taken a player-by-player approach and will study the fitness and mental status of all returning World Cup participants differently to not risk injuries at the start of the second half of the season.

PSG already had all of their (fit) internationals from Portugal (Vitinha), Costa Rica (Keylor Navas), and Spain (Carlos Soler and Fabian Ruiz) available and training at Camp des Loges on Monday, as we reported yesterday.