Neymar injury against Uruguay triggers painful memories for Brazilian fans

In today's (October 18) FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Brazil faced off against South American rivals Uruguay, invoking haunting memories for Brazilian fans as their captain, Neymar, was stretchered off just before halftime.

What

The fourth match in Brazil's FIFA World Cup Qualifiers campaign rubbed salt in the long-lasting wound of Brazilian fans.

• During the Brazil vs Uruguay match at Estadio Centenario, Neymar fell awkwardly just before halftime, clutching his left knee in a battle for the ball.

•  He left the field in tears and couldn't put weight on his left leg, as seen in later video footage.

• The Brazilian fans experienced a sense of déjà vu as they watched their star player being carried off the field in tears, signaling a potential extended period of sidelining, a sight that has become all too familiar for them.

Neymar’s long history of injuries

• Neymar's remarkable ball skills and top-tier talent have been consistently hindered by a persistent adversary: injuries, which have often emerged as the victor.

• Often regarded as one of football's all-time greats and a maestro on the field, Neymar has also garnered a reputation for his susceptibility to injuries.

• During his stints with Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain, he missed numerous crucial matches due to significant injuries, requiring extended recovery periods ranging from four to five months or even longer.

World Cup upset

Neymar's 2014 FIFA World Cup injury in Brazil forced him to miss the rest of the tournament, and many pointed to his absence as a key factor in Brazil's devastating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals.

An not-so-ideal century for PSG

• The Brazilian superstar shocked the entire world when he signed for the French side Paris Saint Germain from the Spanish giants Barcelona in 2017 for a whopping transfer sum of $262 million.

• Following his transfer, he set a remarkable record by missing approximately a hundred PSG games by 2023 due to various injuries until his notable move to the Saudi side Al-Hilal for another staggering fee.

How serious is this injury?

• There's no official word on the severity of Neymar's injuries or his potential absence this season.
• However, Neymar's fall at Centenario strongly suggests a serious injury, possibly an ACL tear.

• The medical officials of the Brazilian national team, as well as their coach, said in the press conference that it was a knee injury that forced Neymar to leave the field.