By Torsten Hull
After being substituted against Serbia, Neymar (30) sat on the bench and cried.
He hit him again, in the opening match against Serbia (2-0) he injured his ankle. With a large swelling on his right leg, Neymar limped into the locker room as his colleagues celebrated the successful start of the World Cup with fans.
Next drama threatens superstar and Brazil!
Neymar’s dramatic injuries
Neymar traveled to Qatar to lead the Selecao to the World Cup at the third attempt. Only then will he be on par with legends like Romario (56) or Ronaldo (46), who made Brazil world champions in 1994 and 2002. But now he is threatened with the end of the tournament. Like in 2014 at the home World Cup, when he injured his back in the quarterfinal against Colombia (2-1) and missed the semifinal against Germany (1-7).
Four years later, three months before the World Cup, a broken foot rejected him and he did not go to the tournament in Russia in top condition. He failed to make an impact there, Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals against World Cup third placed Belgium (1-2).
When the Selecao won the South American championship in 2019 for the first time since 2007 and thus their last major title, Neymer was absent due to an ankle injury sustained a few days before the tournament. Two years later, in the home tournament, he failed to stop Lionel Messi (35) from winning the Copa America with Argentina in the final against Brazil (1-0) at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Neymar falls, screams his pain Photo: SAMAD Jewel / AFP)
Neymar was injured in the match against Serbia in the 67th minute and only left the field in the 80th minute. International team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar explains how the PSG star should now get back in shape. “We started treatment on the bench during the match. The ankle was cooled to prevent the swelling from increasing further.
How is the treatment going?
Physiotherapists take care of Neymar’s ankle around the clock at The Westin, the team’s headquarters in Doha. It is continuously cooled so that the swelling decreases. X-rays should also provide information about the severity of the injury. Neymar is also given anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the pain.
Neymar’s swollen ankle Photo: Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Captain Thiago Silva (38) understands Neymar’s tears: “He had to suffer setbacks so often during or before major tournaments. It must have all gone through his head.”
