Brazil star Neymar ruled out of 2024 Copa America with ACL injury

The 31-year-old ended his six-year association with Paris Saint-Germain when he joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal for a reported £77.8m in the summer.

Neymar made five appearances for his new club Al-Hilal between September and October, before linking up with the Brazil squad on international duty ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Uruguay.

However, the forward was forced off on a stretcher in the first half of Brazil's 2-0 defeat to Uruguay on October 18 and underwent surgery to repair ligaments and meniscus injuries in his left knee two weeks later.

Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who carried out the surgery on Neymar, has since confirmed that the Selecao star will not recover in time to represent his country at next year's Copa America, which will be held in the USA and begins in June.

"It's too early." Lasmar told Brazilian news outlet Rede 98. "There's no point in skipping steps to recover sooner and taking unnecessary risks.

"Our expectation is that he will be prepared to return at the start of the 2024 season in Europe, which is August.

"We need to be patient. Talking about a return before nine months is premature, this is a global concept for knee ligament surgeries recovery.

"It is very important to respect the biological time, the time the body takes to reconstruct that ligament.

"If we follow those steps and after a long recovery, the expectation is that he can perform again at a high level."

Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, and he contributed with two goals and three assists in four 2026 World Cup qualifiers earlier this year.

However, the nine-time Copa America champions will have to cope without their star man for next summer's tournament, with the Selecao facing Colombia, Paraguay and the winner of a playoff between Honduras and Costa Rica in Group D.

The absence of Neymar will require another Brazilian star to step up in the final third, with the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Raphinha all expected to make the final squad if they avoid sustaining an injury.

There could also be a place in the squad for 17-year-old Real Madrid-bound Endrick, who made his senior international debut last month, while Richarlison, Antony, Joao Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Paulinho and Pepe are among a number of other attacking options at Fernando Diniz's disposal.