After suffering a serious knee injury in Brazil’s 0-2 loss to Uruguay, the striker may miss seven to eight months of action.
Post-game imaging revealed a complete rupture of Neymar’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus on the morning of October 18. Both the Brazilian striker and Al Hilal Club revealed the worst-case scenario on social media. He needs to take seven to eight months off after surgery.
After colliding with a Uruguayan player late in the first half, Neymar was forced to leave the game with an injury. The 31-year-old striker wailed in anguish immediately thereafter, and the medical staff had to drive a car in to take him out. Neymar had to use crutches to leave the field at the end of the game.
Neymar went down with his first career knee injury. Before that, he had been sidelined for two years with injuries to his muscles, ankles, ribs, and back. He has been sidelined for 424 days from the year 2020.
To make it to the 2024 Copa America, which will be held in the United States, Neymar will have to beat the clock. The 31-year-old forward has never won the World Cup or the Copa America.
Brazil dropped from first to third place in South American World Cup qualifying with a 0-2 loss to Uruguay on the morning of October 18. Neymar and his teammates share the same total of seven points as Uruguay after four games, but they are lagging behind in the sub-stats. At the same time, Argentina is in first place with 12 points. Brazil will travel to Colombia as an invited guest of Argentina in November of next year.
Neymar has a Brazilian national record of 79 goals scored. When he scored twice in a 5–1 victory over Bolivia on September 8, he surpassed Pele’s previous record of 77 goals. Neymar has played in 127 international matches for Brazil, second only to veteran defender Cafu’s 142.
Fernando Diniz, captain of the Brazilian national team, is filling in as head coach. Carlo Ancelotti will take over for Diniz beginning with the 2024 Copa America. Prior to the expiration of his contract with Real Madrid, the Italian coach decided to take charge of Brazil.
