Neymar has torn ACL, set for surgery after injury with Brazil

Brazilian star Neymar is set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines after exams confirmed he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee throughout his nation’s World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay on Tuesday, Brazil’s Football Confederation introduced Wednesday.

The 31-year-old will bear surgery on a date to be confirmed. He can be out of motion for a number of months.

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“Striker Neymar Jr. of the Brazilian team and Al-Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, underwent clinical and imaging tests this Wednesday, which confirmed the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee,” Brazil’s Football Confederation said in a statement.

“The striker will undergo a surgical procedure, on a date yet to be defined, to correct the injuries. The Brazilian National Team’s medical department, under the supervision of Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar, and Al Hilal, are in permanent contact and aligned in the player’s recovery.”

Al Hilal sent well-wishes to Neymar and posted {a photograph} on social media of the Brazil star as he was taken away from the pitch with the message, “Get well soon.”

Neymar tripped and fell throughout a run within the forty fourth minute of Brazil’s 2-0 loss on the Centenario Stadium and was instantly surrounded by gamers from each groups as he held his left knee.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain ahead was carried off on a stretcher as he held his fingers to his face, whereas teammate Richarlison got here on to switch him.

Neymar, who’s Brazil’s all-time males’s high scorer with 79 objectives in 129 appearances, had solely just lately recovered from a severe proper ankle injury.

He twisted his ankle throughout a recreation towards Lille in February, sustaining ligament harm, simply three months after he suffered the same drawback on the Qatar World Cup.

It has been a tough spell for Neymar, who was hit by a bag of popcorn thrown from the stands by supporters after Thursday’s 1-1 dwelling draw with Venezuela.

He later responded to criticism from the media and followers for his under-par efficiency

“I don’t come here on vacation, much less to go for a walk, I came to do what I love most, which is to play football and defend my country,” he mentioned final week. “Obviously, we are there doing our best, giving our best, and often the result doesn’t come, and it is not what the fans expect.”

Brazil, who’re third in South American World Cup qualifying, play at Colombia and at dwelling to Argentina in subsequent month’s qualifiers.

After six years at PSG, Neymar joined Al Hilal within the big-spending Saudi Pro League for a charge of €90 million ($98.6m) in August.