Neymar has been ruled out of next summer's Copa America as the Brazilian star cannot recover from his cruciate ligament tear in time for the tournament in the US.
- The 31-year-old ex-PSG and Barcelona winger tore his cruciate ligament against Uruguay in October.
- Neymar joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in the summer for £77.2 million ($98.3 million).
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Neymar has been ruled out of the 2024 Copa America because he cannot recover from a torn cruciate ligament in time for the start of the tournament, which will be played in the US in June.
Rodrigo Lasmar, a doctor with the Brazilian national football team, told Radio 98 about the ex-PSG and Barcelona winger's bid to return to competition early next summer: 'It's too early, there's no point in taking steps skip to restore.
“Our expectation is that (Neymar) will be ready to return at the beginning of the 2024 European calendar, which is August.”
Neymar, 31, underwent successful surgery in Brazil on November 2 to repair ligaments and meniscus injuries in his left knee.
He was injured during Selecao's 2026 World Cup qualifying defeat to Uruguay in October.
Brazilian striker Neymar leaves the field crying in pain after tearing his cruciate ligament against Uruguay in October.
Neymar, Brazil's all-time top scorer, joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal this summer in a £77.2 million ($98.3 million) transfer from PSG.
He has previously suffered several right ankle and foot injuries, which forced him to miss six weeks of action in 2021 and Brazil's victorious Copa America campaign in 2019. Due to injuries, Neymar has only been able to play seventeen games for both club and country this year. In February, while still at PSG, he injured his ankle and was subsequently out for five months.
“It is very important that he understands the serious injury he has suffered,” Lasmar said about two months ago. 'He has had other injuries and situations before, this was his third operation. I participated in the other two, which were shorter periods.
'This time it is the most serious injury, it takes more time, so we need him to be very focused and committed to recovery. He follows everything we suggest.'
Brazil will play a friendly against Mexico in the US in June as part of preparations for next year's Copa America, the Brazilian Football Federation said in a statement on Tuesday. The competition will take place on June 8, but the confederation has not announced a location.
Brazil will play its opening match in Group D of the Copa America on June 24 in Inglewood, California, with a rival match still to be decided between Honduras and Costa Rica. Brazil will face Paraguay and Colombia later in the group stage of the tournament.
Mexico is in group B with Ecuador, Venezuela and Jamaica. World Cup winner Argentina is the defending champion of the tournament.
The last meeting between Brazil and Mexico took place in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup. The Brazilians advanced in a 2-0 win with goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino.
