Neymar Jr. may be one of the most exciting soccer talents the world will ever see, but rather than his achievements, his career will be remembered for what he could not achieve. Not too long ago, the former Santos youngster dominated the world alongside Neymar and Suarez, winning trophy after trophy, but that now seems like a distant memory.
Injuries have ravaged Neymar’s post-Barcelona career. He always missed the most crucial games of the season, as he got injured when it mattered most at PSG. The same is happening with his new club, Al-Hilal, as they confirmed the Brazil record goalscorer suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in Brazil’s last qualifying match.
Neymar Jr. suffered a torn ACL and meniscus
Neymar Jr. has suffered a torn ACL injury that could keep him on the sidelines for a long time. The Brazilian was wheeled off the cart in Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay on Tuesday in what appeared to be a serious injury, and his new club Al-Hilal have confirmed the severity of Neymar Jr.’s injury via social media.
“The medical tests “NEYMAR” underwent confirmed the Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Meniscus tear injury in his knee. He will be going through surgery and then a treatment program that will be determined later. Return strong, Neymar,” the club posted on social media, accompanying the text on the photo with a picture of Neymar in pain.
His native country’s football confederation also poignantly confirmed the severity of the injury in an official statement. “Striker Neymar Jr. of the Brazilian national team and Al-Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, underwent clinical and imaging tests this Wednesday, which confirmed the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee,” the statement said.
The confederation also confirmed that the Brazilian National Team’s medical department and Al-Hilal would be in contact with the player to aid his recovery.
Neymar Jr. was in tears as he was wheeled off the pitch before being replaced by Richarlison. His absence proved costly for Brazil, as they lost their first World Cup qualifying game since 2015 after suffering a 2-0 loss to Uruguay.
How long does it take to recover from a torn ACL?
ACL injuries are every athlete’s nightmare. These injuries usually keep them out for a long time, which means they lose the chance to compete at the highest level. For some with a little less motivation, it affects their hunger and may spell the end of their sporting career.
According to Healthline, recovery from an ACL reconstruction surgery may take up to nine months. This period includes physical therapy and the initial healing phases post-surgery.
A study from PubMed Central also declared ACL tear as the most common knee injury that affects around 200,000 people in the United States yearly.
Neymar Jr., who acknowledged Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in his decision to move to the Middle East, suffered the injury on international duty and must focus on a long recovery.
“It’s a very sad moment, the worst,” the Brazilian wrote on social media. “I know I’m strong, but this time, I’m going to need my family and friends even more. It’s not easy to go through injury and surgery. Imagine going through it all again after four months of recovery.”
Will Neymar Jr. still make an appearance for Al-Hilal this season? Make sure to let us know in the comments section.
