New Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti considers Neymar "a very important player" and has urged the injury-prone star "to prepare well" for the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar started his career at Santos before moving to Barcelona and then Paris Saint-Germain.
Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr has tested positive for Covid-19, confirmed his club Santos today.
Neymar’s return to Santos has been anything but smooth. Since rejoining his boyhood club, the 33-year-old has featured in just 13 matches, missing 124 days due to injury and contributing only 3 goals and 3 assists. Sunday’s red card added to the growing frustration surrounding his comeback.
Brazil's new manager, Carlo Ancelotti, on Monday ruled injury-plagued Neymar out from the line-up for the next two World Cup qualifiers, on the Italian's first day as Selecao coach.
Brazilian superstar Neymar will be out for four to six weeks to recover from the latest injury he suffered while playing for Santos against Atletico Mineiro on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The 33-year-old sustained a serious knee injury in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023 and has struggled to return to full fitness, though his recent form at Santos was rewarded with a call-up to the Brazil squad in March.
It was Neymar’s first start since a left thigh issue ruled him out of Brazil’s March fixtures and Santos’ Paulista semi-final defeat to Corinthians.
Neymar has 128 caps and a record 79 goals for his country, surpassing Pele's tally of 77.
Neymar tweeted he would not be discouraged by his latest injury
The Brazilian, who suffered the injury on February 19 against Lille in Ligue 1, "has had several episodes of instability in the right ankle in recent years," said the club, adding that its medical staff "recommended a ligament repair operation" be undertaken in Doha
"New examinations taken today confirm a sprained ankle for Neymar with ligament damage," PSG said in a statement
Brazilian forward Neymar, who scored PSG's second goal in the 17th minute, left the field in tears early in the second half after colliding with Lille's Benjamin Andre and rolling his ankle
The visitors were punished when Mbappe turned in Juan Bernat's cross to make it 3-3 before Messi's free-kick five minutes into stoppage time sealed a dramatic victory for PSG.
PSG head coach Galtier noted Neymar played in a poker tournament on Wednesday and visited a McDonald's branch with friends. It came at a point when PSG's season has reached crisis point, with three damaging defeats in succession putting Galtier under pressure.
Bayern Munich visit the French capital for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie next Tuesday, but there will be no easy build-up to that game for PSG.
Neymar da Silva Santos Junior has won the Samba Gold award, also known as Samba d'Or, and it is the sixth time the Brazilian playmaker bagged the prize in nine years.
Paris St Germain head coach Christophe Galtier said injuries sustained by Sergio Ramos and Kylian Mbappe in their 3-1 win at Montpellier on Wednesday were not serious and that they were taken off to manage their workload during a busy schedule.
South America's top national team competition, the Copa America, will be held in the United States in 2024 and feature 10 teams from South America's CONMEBOL and six teams from the CONCACAF region.