Neymar faces a long road to recovery after suffering the most serious injury of his career, according to Brazil’s national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was forced to undergo surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during Brazil’s 2-0 defeat to Uruguay last month.
Neymar was seen in tears as he left that 2026 World Cup qualifier on a stretcher, and the 31-year-old’s latest injury has thrown his chances of appearing at next year’s Copa America into doubt.
Having signed a two-year contract with Al Hilal in August, Neymar played just three games in the Saudi Pro League before suffering his injury, and the club are reportedly considering deregistering him from their squad to make room for another foreign player.
While Lasmar has been encouraged by Neymar’s progress in the early stages of his recovery, he noted the attacker has a lengthy process ahead of him.
“Neymar has been recovering very well.” Lasmar said on Monday. “Yesterday I was with the player for a new post-operative assessment.
“He is recovering very well, of course, still in the initial phase. It’s a complex injury, he ruptured a ligament and needs to be off his feet for a while.
“Due to the associated injuries, he will go through a lengthy rehabilitation process, he is aware of that. But he has been responding very well, we are satisfied.”
É um momento muito triste, o pior.
Sei que sou forte mas dessa vez vou precisar ainda mais dos meus (famÃlia e amigos)
Não é fácil passar por lesão e cirurgia, imagina passar isso tudo de novo após 4 meses recuperado.
Fé eu tenho, até demais …
Mas a força eu entrego nas mãos… pic.twitter.com/H7Rm7elzBA— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) October 19, 2023
Neymar’s career has been blighted by injuries since he left Barcelona for PSG in 2017, with the Brazilian failing to make more than 22 appearances in a single league campaign in France. Between 2018-19 and 2020-21, Neymar only played 50 Ligue 1 games across three seasons.
Lasmar stressed that Neymar’s most recent injury is the most severe of his career, adding: “It’s very important that he understands the serious injury he suffered.
“He’s had other injuries and situations before, this was his third surgery. I participated in the other two, they were shorter periods. This time it is the most serious injury.
“It takes more time, so we need him to be very focused and dedicated to his recovery. He is following everything we propose.”
Meanwhile, Brazil’s interim head coach Fernando Diniz handed Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus a surprise call-up to his squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina, despite the striker missing the Gunners’ last five matches.
Lasmar says Jesus will not be rushed back into action, saying: “We have been following the player’s situation since he was injured. We have maintained contact with the club’s medical department and the player.
“He is recovering from a muscle injury on the back of his right thigh. It’s Fernando Diniz’s philosophy to have him close, to monitor him day to day.
“As soon as he arrives, he will go through all the tests. We are not talking about when he will play.”
Fernando Diniz convoca Seleção Brasileira para jogos das Eliminatórias ????????
Saiba mais >> https://t.co/SVmMNGhecd pic.twitter.com/TjYzqWKNRu
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) November 6, 2023
