Neymar a doubt for Copa America as Al-Hilal confirm horror injury
Tom Weber
- Updated: 19 Oct 2023 07:04 BST
- 3 min read
Neymar is a major doubt for Copa America 2024 after tearing his ACL on Brazil duty.
The megastar's notorious injury problems have reared their ugly head again. While away from his club on international duty, Neymar collapsed to the ground against Uruguay holding his leg. As Al-Hilal have now confirmed, the Brazilian has ruptured his ACL and suffered a meniscus tear.
It is the 31-year-old's second major injury this year alone and the umpteenth in a career that has been repeatedly plagued by fitness issues. Neymar had missed the second half of last season at PSG due to an ankle issue that required surgery.
READ: Neymar & five stars in Saudi Arabia who could leave in January
By the time he was back on the pitch, the French giants were ready to offload their record signing, who only featured in more than 20 Ligue 1 games in one season during his six years in Paris. Saudi giants Al-Hilal shelled out an eye-watering €90 million on the veteran, reportedly making him the third-best-paid player in the world.
Neymar's injury record
After just five games for the Riyadh side, scoring once and assisting three times, Neymar now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines and a race against time to be fit for the Copa America in the US next summer.
It is the latest in Neymar's long history of injuries, which has included everything from recurring ankle problems to adductor issues. Prior to this year's ankle issue, the 31-year-old had already been forced to watch several games from the sidelines for PSG in 2021/22 because of the same ailment.
READ: Mourinho could spurn Saudi money for World Cup glory
In 2018/19, he was out for a whopping 36 games because of a lack of fitness that included a metatarsal fracture, an injury he had also suffered the year before. To date, the Brazilian has missed north of 170 competitive games because of physical problems.
