A day after their stunning 2-0 win against Serbia in their FIFA World Cup 2022 opener, their star player Neymar has been ruled put of the remaining of the group stage matches owing to the ankle injury he faced during Thursday’s match. However, the tournament is not over for Neymar as he is expected to return for the knockout matches.
The Brazil forward incurred nine fouls during the match at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, the most any player has been subjected to in this World Cup so far, before bein replaced by Antony in their 80th minute of the match when he was seen in pain, clutching his ankle, following a hard tackle from Nikola Milenkovic.
Neymar was spotted being treated with ice packs on the bench during those remaining 10 minutes of the match before he limped his way back to the locker room after the win. He later underwent tests and also received treatment in the hotel on Friday.
“He stayed for the two goals we scored even feeling his ankle injury because the team needed him,” Brazil coach Tite said after the match. “In the two chances and the chance he was in, which [was decisive], his ability to overcome pain. In both goals he was already feeling it.
Neymar will now miss the match against Switzerland on November 28 and against Cameroon on December 3, but will be back in the squad for the knockout games which will begin from December 3 onwards.
Neymar is yet to win a major trophy for Brazi. Although he won the 2013 Confederations Cup for Brazil and an Olympic gold in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, he is yet to make an impact in the biggest stage of all. He also stands two goals behind breaking Pele’s record for Brazil.