Brazil and PSG star, Neymar Jr is likely going to miss the 2019 Copa America on home soil after he limped out of the match just after only 17 minutes of play in what seemed like a ligament rupture in his ankle during Brazil’s 2-0 friendly win over Qatar.
The Paris St-Germain forward, 27, who was stripped of the Brazilian captaincy in May is also facing a rape case levelled on her although the lawyer’s accuser has since fallen out with his client over what he termed as contradictory information.
Everton’s Richarlison had put the hosts ahead after 16 minutes and Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus added a second eight minutes later with the 12-team Copa America tournament starts on Friday, 14 June.
He was later taken to hospital for a scan after being helped off the pitch by members of the Brazil support staff, having appeared to twist his ankle.
After more than three months sidelined with a foot problem, his 69th-minute goal guides Brazil to a 2-0 World Cup warm-up friendly victory over eventual champions Croatia on June 3.
His country Brazil was knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals to Belgium on July 6. He’s been a victim of boos from a home crowd watching on a big screen in Rio every time he rolls on the ground, becoming an internet joke for his theatrical efforts.
He scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 thumping of Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League group stages two months into the club season on October 3 described as ‘sensational’ by head coach Thomas Tuchel.
He failed to make the top 10 of the shortlist for the first time since 2013 finishing in 12th place as Croatia’s World Cup winning-midfielder Luka Modric took the award in a ceremony held in the Brazilians’s adopted home city Paris on December 3.
Brazil coach Tite, who on Monday described the forward as “indispensable” but not “irreplaceable” in the team, initially believed the injury would not be “very serious”.
Neymar, who joined PSG from Barcelona for a world record 222m euros in August 2017, missed three months between January and April earlier this year after breaking a metatarsal in his right foot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l48VuPkHntY
He also missed three months following surgery on the same injury in 2018, returning just in time to play in the World Cup.
Paris St-Germain team-mate Dani Alves replaced Neymar as national team captain a role he held for eight months following disciplinary issues that included a ban for lashing out at a fan.
The hosts are attempting to win South America’s continental tournament for the first time since 2017.