It has been confirmed that Neymar will miss Brazil’s remaining two group stage games with an ankle injury. The side also suffered another injury blow with full-back Danilo also ruled out.
Tournament favourites Brazil got off to a flying start, winning 2-0 against Serbia in typical entertaining fashion. Unfortunately for Brazil, their talisman and captain Neymar limped off the pitch injured with a few minutes to go.
The 30-year-old looked distraught in the dugout, as he had his right ankle taped up with ice.
Neymar left the pitch with an apparent ankle injury 😞 pic.twitter.com/8YcaVSIGOT
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 24, 2022
In the press conference after the game, the team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar validated the concerns of the Brazilian fans.
“Neymar had an injury on the right ankle, direct trauma,” said Lasmar.
“Due to the shock that he had with the knee of the Serbian player, we started immediately the treatment on the bench. He continued with the treatment with physiotherapy.
The injury occurred 11 minutes before Neymar was subbed off in a game where he was fouled on nine separate occasions.
The Brazilian winger is no stranger to injuries, especially in this competition. In the 2014 World Cup, Neymar suffered a crippling back injury in Brazil’s 2-1 win against Colombia in the quarterfinals. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament, it was later reported that he had broken a bone in his back.
Although Brazil has a plethora of talent in Neymar’s position, he brings a level of experience that cannot be replicated in a relatively young squad.
With tough group games against Switzerland and Cameroon still left to play, Brazil fans will have their fingers crossed that they can manage without him.