Brazil's World Cup hopes have suffered a huge setback as their number one star has ben ruled out for the remaining of the tournament.
The 22-year-old Barcelona star Neymar played his last World Cup match in Brazil after picking up a injury in his side's 2-1 win over Colombia.
The Selecao ace was on the receiving end of a miscalculated challenge from Los Cafeteros defender Juan Camilo Zuniga.
The Brazil fans' hearts skipped a beat as Neymar fell to the ground in pain, near the end of the match, before being stretchered off the pitch.
The Napoli man saw his knee collide with the Brazil number 10's back, sending Neymar to the floor full of tears, in excruciating pain.
News later broke on Twitter that the former Santos star was rushed to hospital to be treated.
Neymar got injured during Brazil 2-1 Colombia
NEYMAR INJURED! #BRA 2-1 #COL http://t.co/1qziNEBvIq Android http://t.co/3fSaQbL39a iOS http://t.co/hqZNDsNeeL pic.twitter.com/t7rUcQDtrl
— LiveSoccerTV.com (@LiveSoccerTV) July 4, 2014
Afterwards, it was reported Neymar was immediately taken to hospital
BREAKING: Neymar has been rushed to hospital and his injury doesn't look good according to Brazilian media #BRA
— Purely Football (@PurelyFootball) July 4, 2014
Unfortunately for the host nation, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed Neymar will not be featuring for his country until after the end of the World Cup, fracturing a vertebrae in his spine.
"It's not serious in the sense that it doesn't need surgery, but he'll need to immobilize it to recover," Lasmar informed SportTV. "Unfortunately, he's not going to be able to play."
Crowd gathered outside hospital after Neymar's injury
Neymar injury: Crowd swells outside hospital where #bra star being treated [pic via @danroan] http://t.co/gAfJYbmCUT pic.twitter.com/liVjpKop5l
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) July 5, 2014
News broke out that the 22-year-old will miss the remaining of the World Cup
BREAKING: Neymar out of #WorldCup2014! Without him, can Brazil beat Germany? http://t.co/TlJSEwQZ3D Broken vertebrae pic.twitter.com/9zB8JdoWnC
— LiveSoccerTV.com (@LiveSoccerTV) July 5, 2014
“The exact time (to play again) can be four to six weeks, but it is too early to confirm this. Let's wait for other tests. This is the first diagnosis we had. Initially, we know he will not be able to play.”
The man behind this costly injury, Juan Zuniga, defended his actions afterwards, claiming it was unintentional on his part, distaning himself from foul play.
“It was a normal move. I never meant to hurt a player. I was on the field, playing for the shirt from my country, not without the intent to injure. I was just defending my shirt.”
Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, though, was not pleased as the Colombian defender walked away without even a booking.
"Not even a yellow card, nothing,” said Scolari.
"People think Germany, these or the others, only they are hunted but not Neymar."
"Neymar was going to be hunted. For three matches that has been happening."
The Brazilian was one of the outstanding performers of the competition, scoring four goals along the way, which kept him in the running for the Golden Boot award.
Neymar will not be the only key player missing from the semi-final clash with Germany on July 8. Team captain and star defender Thiago Silva is suspended for the match against Joachim Low's side after picking up a second consecutive booking with a foul on Colombian goalkeeper Ospina.
NO Neymar, NO Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva will miss semi-final if #BRA advance for this "foul". #BRAvsCOL pic.twitter.com/S6am0NR4hG
— KICKTV (@KICKTV) July 4, 2014 
