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AFP
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil star Neymar has been ruled out of the Copa America after tearing ankle ligaments during his country’s 2-0 win over Qatar in a pre-tournament friendly, capping a troubled season for the world’s most expensive player.
The injury to the Paris Saint-Germain player is a huge blow to host nation Brazil’s preparations for the South American continental championship, which begins in just over a week’s time.
A distraught-looking Neymar covered his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after hobbling from the field in the 20th minute at Brasilia’s Mane Garrincha Stadium on Wednesday.
A large ice pack had been strapped to his lower right leg.
“Due to the seriousness of the injury, Neymar will neither be fit nor have time to recuperate sufficiently to participate” in the tournament, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.
The injury comes just nine days before Brazil’s opening Copa America game against Bolivia. It caps a troubled season on and off the field for Neymar. Despite the furore he had continued to train with his Brazilian team-mates for the Copa America.
Before the injury, CBF president Rogerio Caboclo had insisted Wednesday for the second time this week that Neymar would play in the tournament.
With Neymar ruled out, the host nation face an uphill battle to win South America’s continental championship for the first time since 2007.
The injury also leaves a question mark over the future career of Neymar. Ankle problems ruled him out of the second half of the just-completed Ligue 1 season in France. When he did finally return to the team, he played as PSG suffered a shock defeat to Rennes in the French Cup final and then lashed out at a supporter in the stands afterwards.
In a sign of how significant a figure Neymar remains in Brazilian life, the country’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro offered his public backing for the player ahead of the match. “He’s going through a difficult moment but I believe him,” said Bolsonaro.
Rio de Janeiro
Brazil star Neymar has been ruled out of the Copa America after tearing ankle ligaments during his country’s 2-0 win over Qatar in a pre-tournament friendly, capping a troubled season for the world’s most expensive player.
The injury to the Paris Saint-Germain player is a huge blow to host nation Brazil’s preparations for the South American continental championship, which begins in just over a week’s time.
A distraught-looking Neymar covered his face with his hands as he sat on the bench after hobbling from the field in the 20th minute at Brasilia’s Mane Garrincha Stadium on Wednesday.
A large ice pack had been strapped to his lower right leg.
“Due to the seriousness of the injury, Neymar will neither be fit nor have time to recuperate sufficiently to participate” in the tournament, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said.
The injury comes just nine days before Brazil’s opening Copa America game against Bolivia. It caps a troubled season on and off the field for Neymar. Despite the furore he had continued to train with his Brazilian team-mates for the Copa America.
Before the injury, CBF president Rogerio Caboclo had insisted Wednesday for the second time this week that Neymar would play in the tournament.
With Neymar ruled out, the host nation face an uphill battle to win South America’s continental championship for the first time since 2007.
The injury also leaves a question mark over the future career of Neymar. Ankle problems ruled him out of the second half of the just-completed Ligue 1 season in France. When he did finally return to the team, he played as PSG suffered a shock defeat to Rennes in the French Cup final and then lashed out at a supporter in the stands afterwards.
In a sign of how significant a figure Neymar remains in Brazilian life, the country’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro offered his public backing for the player ahead of the match. “He’s going through a difficult moment but I believe him,” said Bolsonaro.
