Neymar’s cruel run of injuries at PSG has continued after he was stretchered off in the dying stages of his team’s 1-0 defeat at home to Lyon on Sunday.
The Brazilian was in visible agony after a challenge from Thiago Mendes – which saw the Lyon midfielder sent off after a VAR review – caused what appears to be a serious ankle issue.
Initial fears were that the ankle could be broken, but reports are now suggesting a severe strain; regardless, Neymar is likely to miss at least the next two months of football.
The 28-year-old has never played more than 20 games in a Ligue 1 season, with just 15 appearances last season by far his lowest since he moved to Europe with Barcelona in 2013.
Neymar has already been injured this season, missing four games with a groin problem, and was ruled out for one match with a positive COVID-19 test in September.
The groin was an issue for Neymar in the 2018/19 season, too, with two instances of that injury keeping him out for a combined five matches.
But the problem has been the variety of injuries. The Brazilian has suffered from rib, hamstring and thigh problems in the last three years, as well as two broken metatarsals in consecutive campaigns that ruled him out of 34 games in total.
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Neymar was instrumental in carrying PSG through to the Champions League knockout stages, but the Brazilian will now be facing a race against time to be passed fit to face his old club Barcelona in the round of 16.
Much like his compatriot Ronaldo, Neymar risks never achieving the true greatness that would ultimately lie ahead of him if not for his susceptibility to injuries.
Still at 28 years of age, his proneness to injury does not bode well for the remainder of his career and for PSG, whose main concern will be getting their star man back on the pitch as soon as possible.
Neymar Jr 
Lionel Messi 
Cristiano Ronaldo 
Kylian Mbappé 
PSG 
Barcelona 
Real Madrid 
