Brazil have been dealt with a fresh blow in Neymar injury, as the superstar playmaker reportedly faces a stiff race against the time to be fit for his side’s knockouts fixtures at the ongoing FIFA World Cup. Neymar was ruled out of Brazil’s group stage campaign just after the opening game against Serbia with an ankle injury. The recurring knock forced him out with 10 minutes remaining during the Serbia win, and the no,10 burst into tears after settling in the dugout.
It was further revealed he has sustained an ankle injury as he shared a picture of it after the game. His swollen ankle was looking nothing less than a Golf ball, as he had wrapped his leg in a compression boot. The Brazil national team’s medical staff reacted quickly as they succeeded in containing the damage done by the injury to their key-player, as he was then expected to miss only the remaining two group games against Switzerland and Cameroon. Brazil were helped by a sole strike from Casemiro to triumph over Switzerland, booking their place in the knockouts, but the road ahead looks tough for the five-time world champions.
Neymar has sustained a possible World Cup-ending ankle ligament damage
Brazil have sealed their last-16 berth with two wins from their first two group games against Serbia and Switzerland, but at the cost of Neymar. The 30-year-old had already hinted prior to the tournament that this could be his last dance at a FIFA World Cup. However, with expectations high from this Brazil team [as always are], the former Barcelona winger was looking to hit full throttle and lead his nation to glory.
But he hasn’t had a World Cup to enjoy for himself, playing just 80 minutes at the competition so far with no goals or assists to his name, unlike his PSG teammates Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who are having a nice tournament with their respective countries. As per the latest reports from The Mirror, Brazil fear Neymar has suffered a ligament damage in his ankle injury, and his absence could go well beyond the group stages, even across the entirety of the competition.
This is the same ankle ligament damage which Neymar first suffered at he end of the 2018/19 season with PSG, forcing him to sit out for two months prior to the start of the new season. However, the ankle problems have troubled him since then, picking up constant knocks during the 20/21 and 21/22 seasons. This is the fourth year in running Neymar has suffered an injury to his same ankle. But a lot is at stake this time than the usual club season, as he was highly motivated to finally taste world cup glory with the Selecaos.
But it seems his ‘World Cup curse’ has followed him at Qatar as well, after he had suffered a massive back injury ending his tournament during the quarterfinals of the 2014 edition which was held on his home soil of Brazil. The previous World Cup too was marred by minor knocks he picked constantly throughout the competition, which again resulted in him failing to fire the record champions to another world title.
Third time too hasn’t been the charm for Neymar, who is in grave danger of missing the rest of the ongoing tournament after the ankle injury. So far, there has been no official confirmation from the Brazil camp about their no.10’s injury and availability beyond the group stage, but manager Tite has already hinted that he won’t force the player into action if he hasn’t recovered fully. Tite also went on to claim that he has a plan in mind to set his team up without Neymar, as he did against Switzerland, where Casemiro had to bail them out with a 83rd minute strike.