By Milcah Tanimu
Neymar was overcome with emotion as he left the field during the Brazil vs. Uruguay World Cup qualifying match after sustaining a knee injury in the first half. The incident took place in the 44th minute when Neymar stumbled and fell, clutching his left knee, prompting players from both teams to gather around him.
Neymar was carefully transported on a stretcher with his hands shielding his face, and his teammate Richarlison came in as his replacement. The Brazilian medical team had no immediate updates on Neymar’s condition during halftime. Following the game, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar indicated that Neymar had already undergone initial tests, with further examinations scheduled for the next day to determine the full extent of the injury.
Lasmar stated, “The next 24 hours will be crucial to assess how the knee responds, the extent of swelling, and imaging tests will provide a definitive diagnosis. It’s premature to confirm if it’s a ligament injury. We’ll patiently await the test results, evaluate calmly, and once we have a clear diagnosis, we’ll communicate it.”
Neymar refrained from speaking with reporters in Montevideo but later posted on Instagram, saying, “God knows about all things.” He expressed, “All the honor and all the glory will always belong to you, my Lord. Regardless of the circumstances, I have faith.”
The match resulted in Brazil’s first loss in 37 World Cup qualifying games, with Uruguay triumphing 2-0. Neymar had faced criticism from fans before the match due to his performance in a 1-1 draw against Venezuela.
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