Brazilian forward Neymar, who currently plays for Al-Hilal, is set to undergo surgery after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and meniscus damage to his left knee during a match against Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
The 31-year-old had to be stretchered off the field in tears during the 2-0 loss to Uruguay after an awkward landing following a challenge in the first half.
In an Instagram post, Neymar expressed his sadness about the injury, saying, “It’s a very sad moment, the worst. I know I’m strong, but this time I’ll need my (family and friends) even more. It’s not easy going through injury and surgery, imagine going through all that again after 4 months of recovery…”
Al-Hilal, the Saudi Arabian club where Neymar currently plays, did not specify the expected duration of his absence. In a statement on social media, they confirmed that he had suffered an ACL cut and cartilage damage, which would require surgery and a treatment program to determine the length of his recovery.
Also Read: ODI World Cup Records: Has any team won a match on the final ball?
Neymar, a key goal scorer for the Brazilian national team, transferred to Saudi Arabia during the summer from Paris Saint-Germain. He has faced injury challenges in the recent past, missing two FIFA World Cup matches in Qatar last year due to an injury sustained during Brazil’s opening game against Serbia.
Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, expressed his hopes for Neymar’s swift recovery, stating, “Brazilian and world football needs Neymar well and recovered because football is happier when he is on the field.”
Neymar had experienced prolonged absences in his last two seasons with PSG due to various ankle injuries. Furthermore, his final season in France was cut short in February due to ankle surgery.
-IANS
