Neymar to have surgery after rupturing ACL, meniscus

SAO PAULO: Football superstar Neymar will undergo surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said on Wednesday, an injury that is expected to sideline the forward for several months.

The 31-year-old went down after tussling for the ball with Uruguay’s Nicolas de la Cruz in the 44th minute of Brazil’s 2-0 defeat on Tuesday, holding his left leg in pain and calling for medical attention as his teammates looked on anxiously.

Neymar, who signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in August, left the pitch in tears on a stretcher after receiving treatment for several minutes, and an MRI scan on Wednesday confirmed the injuries.

Neymar will undergo surgery for the injuries at a “yet-to-be-determined date,” the CBF said, after a series of medical exams on the player in Sao Paulo.

“Brazilian and world football need Neymar healthy and recovered, because football is happier when he’s on the pitch,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement.

The CBF said its medical department and Al Hilal are in “constant contact” and “aligned” on helping the striker recover.

Neymar, who overtook Pele as Brazil’s all-time top goal scorer last month, said he was frustrated to be sidelined with yet another injury so soon after recovering from an ankle operation.

Earlier this year, he underwent right ankle surgery that required months of recovery before he left Paris St Germain to sign a two year deal with Al-Hilal, where he had played only five games this season.

“It’s a very sad time, the worst,” he wrote on Instagram. “I know I’m strong, but this time I’m going to need my family and friends even more. It’s not easy to go through injury and surgery, imagine going through it all again after four months of recovery.”

Neymar’s career has been plagued with injuries. He spent three lengthy spells on the sidelines with his former club Paris St Germain after sustaining right foot injuries.

The latest injury will be a bitter blow to Al-Hilal, who paid a reported 90 million euros ($95 million) for the forward.

The club are unbeaten in the Saudi Pro League and lead by one point, while they are also top of their AFC Champions League group after two games.