Sports

Neymar suffers ankle sprain in Brazil’s World Cup win

Brazil forward, Neymar, suffered a sprained ankle in his team’s World Cup win over Serbia on Thursday and faces a medical assessment in the next 48 hours.

The national team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, made this known after the match in Qatar.

Lasmar said the Brazilian superstar suffered the injury after a collision with his opponent.

Neymar was substituted in the 79th minute of Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia.

“We need to wait 24 to 48 hours to have a better assessment. We have not scheduled any MRI and tomorrow we’ll have a new assessment.

“We need to wait, we cannot make any premature comments about his evolution,” Lasmar said.

Neymar was seen limping heavily after the game while photos of the striker showed swelling on his right ankle.

Brazil coach, Tite, said the Paris Saint-Germain player initially stayed on the field after hurting his ankle “because the team needed him”.

READ ALSO: World Cup: Richarlison scores twice as Brazil thrash Serbia 2-0 

He also moved to play down fears that the 30-year-old could face a lay-off long enough to end his World Cup campaign.

“You can be certain that Neymar is going to play in the World Cup,” Tite stated.

A downcast-looking Neymar declined to speak to journalists as he left the stadium on Thursday.

Neymar needs just two goals to equal Pele’s all-time record tally of 77 for Brazil.

His first World Cup in 2014 ended in agony as he suffered a fractured bone in his back in Brazil’s quarter-final win over Colombia.

Without him, the hosts suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat against Germany in the semi-finals.

Four years later Neymar had to race to recover from injury in time to be fit for the tournament in Russia, but Brazil never hit the heights expected of them as they lost to Belgium in the last eight.

The Brazilian talisman also missed the 2019 Copa America after suffering torn ligaments in his right ankle.

In 2021 Neymar missed roughly 10 weeks of the French season after suffering ligament damage to his left ankle following an injury in PSG’s victory over Saint Etienne.

The Star

Segun Ojo

Recent Posts

Tinubu approves N17bn for grassroots projects across Nigeria’s 8,804 wards

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a community-based national social action fund task…

6 minutes ago

OAU student dies after collapsing ahead of final exam

A final-year medical student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Adewole Emmanuel,…

1 hour ago

Again, Tinubu seeks Senate approval to borrow $516m

President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate, seeking approval to borrow a fresh $516,333,070…

1 hour ago

Latest developments in Middle East war

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East war on Thursday, April 23, 2026:…

3 hours ago

Kaduna pensioners hail Uba Sani over N4.289bn gratuity payment

The Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has praised Governor Uba Sani…

4 hours ago

DSS arraigns El-Rufai on 5-count amended charge

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday arraigned former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai…

4 hours ago

This website uses cookies.