Brazil star Neymar will miss their next FIFA World Cup match after injuring his ankle in his team’s opening win against Serbia. AFP Quoting team doctor.
Brazil registered a 2-1 win against Serbia in their opening Group G match at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar on Thursday. Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star collided with Nikola Milenkovic during the second half which left him injured.
Neymar tried to play for Brazil – also known as the Seleção, was substituted with about 10 minutes to go and underwent an examination on Friday.
Read also: WATCH: How Richardson used ‘magic’ goal practice to define Brazil v Serbia results
Giving more details, the Brazilian Football Federation’s (CBF) doctor Rodrigo Lassmar said Neymar has suffered “ligament damage” and will miss the match against Switzerland on November 28 at the Stadio 974.
Besides Neymar, Brazil right-back Danilo will also miss the second Group G match due to an ankle strain.
“We will not have these two players for the next match, but they will continue their treatment with the aim of recovering in time for the rest of the competition,” the doctor was quoted as saying in a video released by the CBF.
However, after the Serbia match, Selecao coach Tite was optimistic Neymar would return to lead Brazil’s bid for a record-extending sixth World Cup crown.
“You can be sure Neymar will play in the World Cup,” Tite said.
Injury saga:
The Paris Saint-Germain star’s career has been hampered by injuries, which have affected his last two World Cups.
In 2014 he fractured his back bone in the quarter-final win over Colombia, which resulted in him being sidelined when the hosts were beaten 7–1 by Germany in the semi-finals.
In 2018, even though he raced to recover from injury in time for the tournament in Russia, Brazil failed to reach the expected heights before losing to Belgium in the last eight.
This time around, Neymar arrived in Qatar fit and healthy after an impressive start to the season with PSG, in which he has scored 15 goals in 20 appearances.
As expected, Neymar is probably playing his last World Cup, as this is his third World Cup. He needs just two more goals to equal Pelé’s all-time record of 77 for the South American nation.
Brazil is the only country that has been able to participate in every single World Cup since its original edition in 1930. This is his 22nd appearance.
With AFP inputs.