2022 World Cup betting favorites Brazil are thought likely to top Group H and set themselves up for a push towards the title in Qatar, but they’ll have to do so without their most popular player, at least for the time being.
Neymar, the unquestioned leader of the Brazil forward line, suffered an ankle injury in the latter stages of the 2-0 win over Serbia to start the tournament. He was withdrawn with 10 minutes to go and looked distraught on the sidelines as the game came to a close.
Having already secured three points, Brazil now sit in an advantageous position atop Group H and are likely to qualify for the knockout stages.
Yet they’ll have to move forward without Neymar, and while he’s expected to return for World Cup action at some point in the near future, the timeline for his recovery is not yet known and he could miss valuable time as the Selecao search for their sixth World Cup title.
MORE: Full tracker of every known injury for all 32 teams at the 2022 World Cup
Neymar suffers ankle injury vs. Serbia
After playing a part in Brazil’s opening goal against Serbia on November 24, Neymar was forced from the field in the 80th minute.
The 30-year-old had been down on the ground after being subjected to a heavy tackle that seemed to hurt his right ankle, which was immediately treated by Brazil’s medical staff.
Neymar was targeted throughout the Serbia match, fouled nine times, the most of any player in the opening round of World Cup action.
He eventually felt the full weight of one of those challenges, with his ankle clearly buckling under the weight of a tackle by Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic, whose trailing leg appeared to catch Neymar’s foot.
— Gols Copa 2022 (@golscopa2022) November 24, 2022
Photos after the match showed Neymar’s ankle swollen, with the Brazilian playmaker clearly in pain.
Neymar was visibly emotional after leaving the field, and he was seen in tears on the bench — with fears the injury may now limit his involvement in the 2022 World Cup.
📸Así quedó la pierna de Neymar tras la entrada de Milenkovic. pic.twitter.com/Do0dD1v1F2
— Express Futbol (@ExpressFutbolCL) November 24, 2022
How long is Neymar out injured?
Based on his immediate reactions and the subsequent swelling, the news may not be good for him or the team, as they look to win their first World Cup in 20 years — although coach Tite told the press afterwards that he is hopeful it will not be serious. He insisted: “Neymar is going to play [in the rest of the World Cup]. I can be absolutely sure that Neymar is going to play!”
Following the match, Brazilian outlet Globo reported that Neymar would be out for the rest of the group stage, but could return for the knockout round. The report also claimed right-back Danilo is set for a similar lay off after suffering an ankle injury of his own.
“The scans showed a lateral ligament injury on Neymar’s right ankle, along with a small bone swelling. And a medial ligament injury in Danilo’s left ankle,” team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said.
That gives Neymar around 11 days to rest and try to be fit before Brazil likely take to the field in the knockout stages.
Neymar injury history at the World Cup with Brazil
Neymar’s emotions on the sideline is understandable given his injury history, as he certainly feared he would be yet again left to watch his team compete at another World Cup.
The most infamous injury in Neymar’s career came in the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil hosted. In the quarterfinals against Colombia, Neymar was the recipient of a terrible tackle by Camilo Zuniga who kneed him straight in the back. The Brazilian suffered a broken vertebrae, which he later stated nearly cost him his career. He missed the semifinals, where Brazil were infamously stomped by Germany 7-1 without their star.
Neymar has also suffered other key injuries throughout his career. He missed the entirety of the 2019 Copa America due to a serious ankle injury suffered on club duty, and Brazil went on to win the tournament, meaning the only major trophy Brazil has won during Neymar’s playing career came while he was not involved.
Finally, Neymar missed two 2022 World Cup qualifiers with Brazil against Venezuela and Uruguay back in 2020, both of which his side won, while he also saw an ankle injury keep him out of three more qualifiers last November, including the 0-0 draw with Argentina plus a 1-1 draw with Ecuador.
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