Neymar undergoes surgery in Brazil

Neymar will be sidelined for months, courtesy of this injury.

Neymar has undergone surgery on Thursday in his native Brazil after tearing a ligament and meniscus in his left knee during a national team match last month.

The 31-year-old, who joined Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal SFC from Paris Saint-Germain in August, has been operated on at Mater Dei hospital in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte by national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, CBF said in its statement.

Lasmar previously operated on Neymar for a foot fracture in 2018 with Al Hilal also confirming that their director of medical administration Dr. Juan Duque will also be in attendance.

Neymar was stretchered off in tears during Brazil's 2-0 loss to Uruguay in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on October 17, after colliding with opposing midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz.

Exams found the star striker had torn his left anterior cruciate ligament, one of the most serious knee injuries in football.

The injury is expected to sideline him for several months, including for Brazil's upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers this month against Colombia and arch-rival Argentina as well as the early stages of the AFC Champions League 2023/24.

It is the latest in a string of injuries for Neymar, who underwent surgery in March for an ankle problem that sidelined him for six months.