Next year sees the return of Copa America, as Brazil aim to dethrone Argentina as the kings of South America. Unfortunately, the Selecao look set to be without their key man for this tournament.
That player is Neymar, the former Santos sensation who sadly suffered an ACL tear while on international duty back in October. The 31-year-old underwent successful surgery but according to Rodrigo Lasmar, a doctor with the Brazil national soccer team, the Al Hilal superstar will not recover in time for the upcoming tournament.
"It's too early, there's no point skipping steps to recover," Lasmar told Radio 98 (as per the Daily Mail) when asked about the possibility of Neymar returning this summer in time for the 2024 Copa America, which kicks off in late June.
"Our expectation is that [Neymar] will be prepared to return at the start of the 2024 European calendar, which is August."
Neymar picked up this horrible issue back in October during Brazil's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. The attacker went down in terrible pain after being on the receiving end of a tackle and the severity of this issue became immediately evident.
The Brazilian was seen clutching his knee in pain and was later stretchered off the pitch in tears in a game the Selecao would eventually lose 2-0. The five-time World Cup champions have lost back-to-back qualifiers following that tie while the player went under the knife in his home country a few weeks later to repair ligaments and meniscus injuries.
While a return was not categorically ruled out by the doctor, Neymar's age and injury record lead many to believe he will not recover in time for next year's Copa America. This would not be the first time the Selecao sensation missed out on South America's prestigious competition, having been forced to watch from the sidelines in 2019 as Brazil lifted the trophy for the ninth time.
Led by interim boss Fernando Diniz, Brazil have been placed in Group D where they will battle it out with Colombia, Paraguay, and one of Costa Rica or Honduras.
