RIO DE JANEIRO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Brazil defender Paulo Henrique faces a race to be fit for the FIFA World Cup after missing Vasco da Gama's Serie A match against Internacional on Saturday with an ankle injury.
The 29-year-old right-back sprained his right ankle during Vasco's midweek Copa do Brasil draw with Paysandu and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher.
"The player is undergoing intensive treatment [and] was rested to manage workload," Vasco said in a statement on social media.
Paulo Henrique was included in Brazil's preliminary list of 55 players for the World Cup, which begins on June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti is due to announce his final 26-man list on Monday in Rio de Janeiro.
Paulo Henrique has earned two Brazil caps and scored his first international goal in a friendly against Japan last October. ■
