Neymar set for another brutal career blow as doctor confirms worst fear

In yet another blow to his career, Neymar will have to sit out of another major tournament for the Brazilian national team.

Neymar is unlikely to take part in the 2024 Copa America, according to Brazilian team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.

The 31-year-old forward is set to miss the South American tournament because of a knee injury. He suffered the injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on October 17. During the match, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee.

Neymar had surgery on his knee two weeks later, but he isn’t expected to return to the pitch until August.

“It’s too early,” Lasmar told Brazilian radio network Rede 98.

“There’s no point in skipping steps to recover sooner and taking unnecessary risks. We expect that he will be prepared to return at the start of the 2024 season in Europe, which is August.”

In the interview, Lasmar added that it’s important to be patient and respect the natural recovery time for knee ligament surgery. The goal is for Neymar to perform at a high level after a lengthy recovery.

The 2024 Copa America, which takes place in the United States, will last from June 20 to July 14.

Brazil are in Group D for the tournament alongside Colombia, Paraguay, and the victor of the Costa Rica-Honduras play-off.

The Selecao will be without Neymar for the second time in three Copa America tournaments. The Al-Hilal attacker previously missed the 2019 competition because of an ankle injury.

He has been on the wrong side of many injury setbacks since September 2017, causing him to miss over 160 games for club and country.

#FDP98 | NEYMAR FORA DA COPA AMÉRICA!

Em entrevista ao programa Filhos da Pauta (FDP), desta terça-feira, o médico da Seleção Brasileira Rodrigo Lasmar afirmou que o atacante Neymar está fora da Copa América de 2024.https://t.co/0u4GuYicim pic.twitter.com/G1gctPmxCJ

— Rede 98 (@Rede98Oficial) December 20, 2023