Neymar to Undergo ACL Surgery

Neymar, the forward for both Brazil and Al-Hilal, is set to undergo surgery due to a recent injury that involved the rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during international duty.

The 31-year-old football star was visibly distressed, leaving the field on a stretcher with tears in his eyes following a 2-0 loss to Uruguay on a Tuesday.

This unfortunate incident occurred when Neymar landed awkwardly during a challenge in the first half of the 2026 World Cup qualifier held in Montevideo. Expressing his emotions on Instagram, Neymar conveyed, "It's a very sad time, the worst. I know I'm strong, but this time I'm going to need my family and friends even more."

While the precise duration of Neymar's absence remains uncertain, the standard recovery period for an ACL rupture or tear ranges from eight to 10 months. The Brazilian Football Confederation's president, Ednaldo Rodrigues, emphasized the significance of Neymar's return to health, stating, "Brazilian and world football need Neymar healthy and recovered, because football is happier when he's on the pitch."

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading male goal scorer, made a noteworthy move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia during the summer transfer window, departing from Paris St-Germain. In recent years, he has grappled with various injuries, including missing two World Cup matches in Qatar after being injured in Brazil's opening game against Serbia.

Additionally, Neymar faced extended periods of sidelining during his last two seasons with PSG due to ankle injuries. His final season in France was prematurely cut short in February due to ankle surgery. The footballer expressed the challenges of enduring another injury and surgery after just four months of recovery, emphasizing the hardships he must overcome.

In a painful reminder of his history with injuries, Neymar previously broke a bone in his back during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. This occurred following a harsh challenge by Juan Zuniga in the quarter-final match against Colombia. Although Brazil won that game, Neymar was unable to continue in the tournament, and his country eventually suffered a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.