Brazil star Neymar has had a brilliant career, consistently proving one of the best players in the world when healthy.
Yet it’s his health that has consistently held him back, often sidelined for long stretches of time with injuries that have curbed the otherwise sensational forward.
He will be sidelined for extended time again after his latest injury on international duty, exiting the field for Brazil against Uruguay in an October match as part of CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifying.
Neymar was in tears as he was stretchered off the pitch after a challenge in first-half stoppage time, leading viewers to believe he could be forced to push through yet another long recovery process.
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Neymar injury news, updates after being stretchered off vs Uruguay
Neymar will miss significant time after suffering a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee, his club Al Hilal have confirmed.
The 31-year-old was stretchered off in first-half stoppage time of Brazil’s match on October 17 against Uruguay in 2026 World Cup qualification.
With Brazil trailing 1-0 and the halftime break soon to come, Neymar was bodied up by River Plate midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz, who managed to force Neymar off the ball. It seemed like a physical but legal coming-together, but Neymar was left in a heap on the turf, clearly in immense pain.
Replay showed the challenge caused Neymar to take an awkward step with his left leg, and his knee appears to possibly have buckled as his weight shifted to that side for just a split second.
Neymar was brought to the touchline by the cart while in tears, and then hobbled to the locker room while being helped by team staff. Richarlison entered the match in his place.
Neymar stretchered off in tears after an injury nearing halftime of Uruguay-Brazil.
This was the play that took Neymar out.
He was later seen hobbling to the locker room helped by someone. pic.twitter.com/iHmSHR4gUb
— Nico Cantor (@Nicocantor1) October 18, 2023
Following the match, Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said that some tests had already been conducted and more were due for completion to determine the full extent of the injury.
“These 24 hours will be important to see how the knee will respond, how will be the swelling,” Lasmar said. “Imaging tests that will define a definitive diagnosis. It’s too early to say [how serious the injury is]. Let’s wait for the exams calmly, evaluate calmly, and as soon as we have a definition we will let you know.”
2023 year proves injury-filled for Neymar
It was only just weeks prior that Neymar returned to the pitch from a long spell on the sidelines.
Neymar suffered an ankle injury during the 2022 World Cup, missing a pair of matches during the tournament as Brazil were eliminated early in the knockout stage. He didn’t seem himself and ultimately was seriously injured in late February 2023 while with PSG, missing the final 15 matches of the season as he underwent surgery on the troublesome ankle.
That injury layoff lasted through the summer and into the new season, joining Saudi Arabia club Al Hilal but missing the team’s first four league matches of the year. He only just returned in mid-September, debuting for his new club with three goals in his first three league games, plus one more in the AFC Champions League.
Now, thanks to the latest injury, it’s likely that Neymar will miss at least six months, and potentially longer, possibly up to a year. Neymar’s 2023/24 season with Al Hilal could be over, or at the very least curtailed significantly. Furthermore, his participation in next summer’s Copa America, which takes place in the United States, is in serious jeopardy.
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