Neymar ruled out of 2024 Copa America

Neymar has been ruled out of the 2024 Copa America due to his inability to recover from a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in time for the start of the tournament, which will be held in the United States in June.

“It’s too early; there’s no point skipping steps to recover,” said Rodrigo Lasmar, a doctor with the Brazilian national soccer team, of the ex-PSG and Barcelona winger’s bid to return to competition by the start of next summer.

“Our expectation is that [Neymar] will be prepared to return at the start of the 2024 European calendar, which is August.”

On November 2, Neymar, 31, underwent successful surgery in Brazil to repair ligament and meniscus injuries in his left knee.

In October, he was injured during the Selecao’s 2026 World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal in the summer for a fee of £77.2 million ($98.3 million).

He has previously suffered several right ankle and foot injuries, causing him to miss six weeks of action in 2021 as well as Brazil’s successful Copa America campaign in 2019. Neymar has only made 17 appearances for club and country this year due to injuries. He injured his ankle in February while still at PSG and was sidelined for five months.

”It’s very important that he understands the serious injury he suffered,” Lasmar said roughly two months ago. “He’s had other injuries and situations before; this was his third surgery. I participated in the other two; they were shorter periods.

“This time it is the most serious injury; it takes more time, so we need him to be very focused and dedicated to recovery. He is following everything we propose.”

Brazil will play Mexico in a friendly in the United States in June as part of preparations for next year’s Copa America, according to a statement issued by the Brazilian soccer confederation on Tuesday. The match will take place on June 8, but no location has been announced by the confederation.

Brazil will play its first Copa America Group D match on June 24 in Inglewood, California, against a team to be determined between Honduras and Costa Rica. Brazil will then face Paraguay and Colombia in the tournament’s group stage.

Mexico is in Group B, which also includes Ecuador, Venezuela, and Jamaica. Argentina is the tournament’s defending champion after winning the World Cup.

Brazil and Mexico most recently met in the round of sixteen of the 2018 World Cup. The Brazilians won 2-0 thanks to goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino.