Neymar limps out of training

Brazil forward Neymar left their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in tears on Tuesday after suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Uruguay beat Brazil 2-0 in the match .

The 31-year-old went down after a tackle from behind by Nicolas de la Cruz in the 44th minute, holding his left leg in pain and calling for medical attention as his team mates looked on anxiously.

He left the pitch on a stretcher after receiving treatment for several minutes. Brazil FA sources said Neymar had sustained a severe left knee sprain and that he would undergo tests to determine if there was ligament damage.

Brazil superstar Neymar announced his return to team training with his Saudi club Al Hilal on Monday after nearly a year out with a left knee injury.

The 32-year-old moved from Paris Saint-Germain in a blockbuster deal in August 2023 but played only five matches before rupturing his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament on international duty in October.

"Happy to be back in the group," Neymar posted on Instagram, with pictures of him running and kicking the ball, watched by Al Hilal's Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.

After surgery, Neymar resumed individual training in July. His return to competitive games will depend on "his technical readiness and the coach's decision", a club official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP.

Brazil coach Dorival Junior urged patience for Neymar's recovery last week as he left the forward out of his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru.

Al Hilal, the reigning Saudi champions, have not yet registered Neymar for the current Saudi Pro League season, which began last month.

But the former Barcelona player, with a reported salary of about 100 million euros ($112 million) a year, is listed to play in the AFP Champions League, Asia's biggest club tournament.

Despite Neymar's absence, Al Hilal won the Saudi league at a canter last season, going unbeaten with 31 wins and three draws.

The Riyadh club also clocked up a record 34 consecutive wins in all competitions before being stopped in the Champions League semi-finals by the UAE's Al Ain.

A Brazilian court has suspended a $3 million fine imposed on soccer star Neymar last year for building a lake at his mansion on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro without an environmental license.

The ruling -- dated Monday and obtained by AFP Wednesday -- from Judge Adriana Ramos de Mello cited a report from state environmental authority INEA asserting that the project did not in fact require special environmental permits.

"As the applied fines were in the millions of dollars, continuing to demand (payment)... will inflict substantial, disproportionate and even illegal prejudice" against the Al Hilal SFC player, the judge said.

The town council in Mangaratiba issued four fines for a total of 16 million reais ($3.3 million) for "environmental violations in the construction of an artificial lake at the player's mansion" in the tourist town about 130 kilometers (80 miles) outside of Rio.

Among "dozens of infractions" detected, the authorities listed "carrying out work subject to environmental control without authorization," capture and diversion of river water without authorization, and "removal of land and suppression of vegetation without authorization."

But the judge sided with the INEA's findings, saying in her ruling that their inspection "confirmed that no (environmental) license is required for such activities, and therefore the alleged infractions "were not present."

Neymar bought the Mangaratiba mansion in 2016. According to Brazilian media it features a heliport, spa and gym.

Brazillian superstar Neymar has promised a return to his boyhood club Santos FC in 2025 after his stint with Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League ends, according to multiple outlets.

The 32-year-old forward is currently sidelined with knee ligament damage and was recently the guest of honour in the Campeonato Paulista final between Santos and Palmeiras, which the former team won.

At that game, he briefly mingled with Santos players behind the scenes before taking to the field in front of an adoring fanbase.

Supporters called for his homecoming as he paraded the Paulista trophy, with a club official later confirming to UOL that Brazil's all-time leading goal-scorer has promised to retrace steps to where it all began for him once he hits free agency.

According to UOL, Neymar has informed those at Santos that he will be rejoining their ranks when his deal in the Middle East expires. He is said to have made that vow during a visit to the Santos dressing room ahead of the final.

Speculations of him joining his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Inter Miami in MLS had recently gained momentum after the player was seen rubbing shoulders with David Beckham, one of the owners of the club, in the USA during his enforced break from action.

However, the latest revelation shows that Neymar has no intention of recreating the famous 'MSN' trio in the USA and would rather return to Santos.

Brazil forward Neymar will not recover from knee surgery in time to play at next year's Copa America, national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said on Tuesday.

Brazil's top scorer underwent surgery last month after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his left knee on international duty in October.

Lasmar, who carried out the surgery, said the 31-year-old is not expected to be fit until August and they do not intend to take short cuts in the recovery process for him to play at the June 20-July 14 tournament in the United States.

"There won't be time, it's too early, there's no point skipping steps to recover sooner and taking unnecessary risks," Lasmar told Brazilian radio station Radio 98 FM.

"We expect that he will be ready to return at the start of the 2024 season in Europe, which is in August. We need to be patient. Talking about a return before nine months is premature.

"It is very important to have the time it takes for the body to build that ligament. The expectation is that after this time, he will have recovered at a high level."

Neymar joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in August but the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward played only five games as he struggled with muscle injuries.

Brazil have been drawn in Group D for the Copa America with Colombia, Paraguay and a CONCACAF qualifier.