Neymar to miss Brazil's next match with ankle injury
LUSAIL, Qatar — Neymar, who sat crying on the bench and later left the stadium limping with a swollen right ankle after Brazil's 2-0 victory over Serbia at the World Cup on Thursday, will miss Brazil’s second World Cup match but will remain with the squad undergoing treatment for his ankle injury, the team doctor said Friday.
Rodrigo Lasmar said tests conducted on his right ankle showed that Neymar has a ligament injury and will not play against Switzerland on Monday.
"It’s important to remain calm, an evaluation will be conducted daily so we can have more information and take the most appropriate decisions," Lasmar said, adding that "the goal is to have him recover" in time to still play in the tournament.
Lasmar did not give a timetable for Neymar’s recovery. He said the situation of defender Danilo, who has a left ankle injury, was similar to Neymar’s and he would also miss the game against Switzerland.
Neymar was receiving treatment at the team’s hotel Friday after getting injured in the 2-0 win against Serbia in Brazil’s opener.
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Neymar suffered a sprained right ankle in Brazil's win over Serbia. Dr. Matt Provencher talks about the injury.
Neymar was also injured at the 2014 World Cup. Playing at home in Brazil, his tournament ended with a back injury in the quarterfinals against Colombia when he had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. Brazil ended up losing to Germany 7-1 in the semifinals.
Neymar, who was fouled nine times in the match against Serbia, got injured in the second half and was substituted in the 79th minute. Tite said he stayed on the field for 11 minutes before asking to be replaced.
"He overcame the injury because the team needed him," Tite said. "I didn't even see that he had been injured. He just kept playing."
Neymar was in tears on the bench as doctors began treating him in the final minutes of the game at Lusail Stadium. He pulled his shirt over his head as doctors taped ice around his foot. He went into the locker room limping, and also limped as he left the stadium without speaking to reporters.
Neymar leaves the pitch after his ankle injury during the Group G match between Brazil and Serbia at Lusail Stadium. (Photo by Fareed Kotb/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Neymar leaves the pitch after his ankle injury during the Group G match between Brazil and Serbia at Lusail Stadium. (Photo by Fareed Kotb/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Neymar was tackled hard a few times during the match and was limping and grimacing before having to leave the field. He was the most fouled player on the field.
The 30-year-old Neymar has yet to win a major title with the national team. He helped the Seleção win the 2013 Confederations Cup and its first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
With 75 goals for the national team, he is two shy of Pelé's scoring record.
Reporting by the Associated Press