Neymar’s battle with injuries: ACL tear puts season and Copa America participation in doubt
Neymar Junior, unquestionably one of the most beloved football players in the world, has been forced to watch games from the sidelines far too frequently in recent years due to a string […]
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Oct 19, 2023 1:16 pm
Neymar Junior, unquestionably one of the most beloved football players in the world, has been forced to watch games from the sidelines far too frequently in recent years due to a string of unfortunate injuries. Injury setbacks throughout his illustrious career have prevented him from being a constant presence on the field and have caused fans to worry about his well-being.
Neymar has endured a long string of injuries. The Brazilian superstar spent three lengthy periods on the sidelines while playing for Paris St. Germain, each time due to injuries to his right foot. A back injury he sustained during the 2014 World Cup quarterfinal against Colombia prevented him from playing in the crucial semifinal match against Germany, which resulted in a 7-1 loss for Brazil.
Neymar’s right ankle sprain that affected his fifth metatarsal in his foot during the 2018 World Cup in Russia added to his injury woes. He missed 16 games for PSG as a result of this injury, and he also played through pain for Brazil until their elimination from the World Cup in the quarterfinals at the hands of Belgium. Unfortunately, the cycle of injuries continued during the World Cup in Qatar last year, 2019, 2021, and again. Before moving to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar had surgery on his right ankle earlier this year, requiring a five-month recovery period.
Neymar Jr ( Source: Twitter)
Neymar had sustained a number of injuries over the course of his career, but up until last Tuesday, he had never suffered a knee injury. Neymar suffered a painful and upsetting injury during Brazil’s match against Uruguay when he landed awkwardly following a collision with Nicolás de la Cruz just before halftime. The 31-year-old was carried off the field while holding his face in his hands and was examined by doctors.
Later, it was announced by the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) that Neymar would require surgery to treat his wounds. Although the precise timeframe for his recovery is still unknown, the severity of the injury raises questions about his ability to take part in future games. Neymar has missed a staggering 424 days of action due to injuries since 2020.
Neymar’s Struggles with Injuries Reach a New Low as ACL Tear Raises Questions About His Future
Due to his most recent injury setback, Indian fans’ hopes for Neymar’s participation in the upcoming match on November 6 at the DY Patil Stadium are now in doubt. For the AFC Champions League Group Stage matches, Neymar, who now represents the Saudi club Al-Hilal, was slated to take on FC Nassaji Mazandaran, PFC Navbahor Namangan, and Mumbai City FC. However, his injury makes it unlikely that he will travel to India for the club’s match against Mumbai City FC.
Neymar himself confirmed the grim diagnosis on social media. The player’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus were completely torn after examinations on his left leg. His club, Al-Hilal, also verified this information on their official website.
Since the recovery time for ACL injuries can range from six months to a year, Neymar’s participation in the remaining games of the current campaign and his readiness for the Copa America, which is set to begin in June of next year, are in doubt. Fans all over the world wish for Neymar to quickly return to the field free from the burden of the injuries that have dogged his career as he faces yet another difficult recovery journey.
Look at how the fans have reacted:
Gutted for Neymar! He is gone for almost 9 months now. He has some serious bad luck when it comes to injuries & he saw many of them. His career has revolves around injuries. Career decisions and injuries denied us an extraordinary career. Recover soon my boy https://t.co/9bB8jEOlU9
