'Worst of my life': Neymar shares emotional post after sustaining ACL injury on Brazil duty

Neymar has labelled his latest injury setback as the “worst” moment of his life. The football superstar got injured during Brazil's 2-0 loss to Uruguay and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) Wednesday confirmed that the attacker has a torn ligament and meniscus in his left knee and will have to undergo surgery. The 31-year-old, who joined Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August, was stretchered off in tears just before halftime in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match in Montevideo Tuesday. Neymar will undergo surgery for the injuries at a “yet-to-be-determined date,” the CBF said, after a series of medical exams on the player in Sao Paulo. “Brazilian and world football need Neymar healthy and recovered, because football is happier when he’s on the pitch,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement. The CBF said its medical department and Al Hilal are in “constant contact” and “aligned” on helping the striker recover. Neymar, who overtook Pele as Brazil’s all-time top goal scorer last month, twisted his knee in a collision with Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz in stoppage time near the end of the first half. Carried off on a stretcher, he left the stadium on crutches and wearing a leg brace after the match. It is the latest in a string of injuries for the star, who underwent surgery in March for an ankle problem that sidelined him for six months.

Neymar leaving the stadium.

Even after such a horrible injury, he still makes time for a young fan. pic.twitter.com/xZ5sCurrhQ

— Ginga Bonito 🇧🇷 (@GingaBonitoHub) October 18, 2023

Fitness problems overshadowed much of his six seasons at PSG, which signed him for a world-record $234 million (222 million euros) in 2017. He signed for Al Hilal for a reported $95 million in August. Knee injuries are among the most common – and serious – in football. The CBF said Neymar’s injury was to his anterior cruciate ligament, one of the worst of all. Surgery to repair the condition often takes players out of action for months. Neymar’s message Neymar took to social media to express his feelings and said that he will be needing the support of his family and friends to recover form the latest injury.

É um momento muito triste, o pior.
Sei que sou forte mas dessa vez vou precisar ainda mais dos meus (família e amigos)
Não é fácil passar por lesão e cirurgia, imagina passar isso tudo de novo após 4 meses recuperado.
Fé eu tenho, até demais …
Mas a força eu entrego nas mãos… pic.twitter.com/H7Rm7elzBA

— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) October 19, 2023

“It’s a very sad moment, the worst. I know I’m strong, but this time I’m going to need my friends (family and friends) even more. It’s not easy to go through injury and surgery, imagine going through it all again after 4 months of recovery. I have faith, too much… But I place the strength in God’s hands so that he can renew mine. Thank you for the messages of support and affection” he wrote. With AFP inputs