Neymar’s Injury Journey Through the Years
Neymar reacted instantly to a brutal moment on the field. Lying on the grass and later on a stretcher, she cried out in pain, overwhelmed by the severity of the injury. The Brazilian star endured the worst setback of his career during a match against Uruguay at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. A tear to the left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus would sideline him for an extended period, costing him substantial time across the season. He had already faced major injuries in his career, but this one in the Saudi League at age 31 marked a turning point, underscoring how recurring issues could cut into a career that carried immense promise and presence.
This was Neymar’s first major knee injury, with additional reports noting ankle discomfort and muscle pain along the way. He sat out for nearly 900 days and missed around 200 official matches. In an Instagram post, he called it “a very sad moment, the worst,” adding that he would lean on family and friends to get through the trial. He spoke of the challenge of going through injury and surgery, especially after just four months of recovery. The message carried a weight that resonated with fans who had watched him battle through adversity.
That update reflected a difficult reality for a player known for high expectations. Since leaving Barcelona, there has always been pressure to lead both club and country. Injuries and illness — not just form — often limited his ability to carry teams to glory. He entered World Cup campaigns and major tournaments with glimpses of peak form but failed to consistently deliver on the level many hoped for. At PSG, a club that signed him six years earlier with hopes of lifting the Champions League, the missing piece remained elusive as injuries stifled his continuity.
Few Injuries, Big Promise at Barcelona
During four seasons with FC Barcelona, Neymar was a regular presence on the pitch. Beyond the ankle issue, serious injuries rarely interrupted his progress. In his first season, a knee- or ankle-related setback in February kept him out for about a month, and a late-season foot issue added roughly another three weeks. A spinal fracture in the 2010 World Cup sidelined him for a month as well. Across those early years, he combined with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez to forge moments that defined an era.
In his second season and the following two, mild ankle sprains and minor muscle problems kept him from full flight for more than a month at a time. Across four seasons with Barcelona, the team’s average total matches stood high, and Neymar contributed to a string of memorable performances and decisive goals that shaped the club’s legacy.
Problems Start in Paris
With Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar enjoyed countless dazzling nights but injuries began to creep in with more regularity. The first major setback arrived in early 2018 when a fractured metatarsal in one foot sidelined him for nearly three months, impacting Brazil’s World Cup hopes in Russia. At the start of his second season in Paris, a bout of illness kept him out for three weeks. Early 2019 brought another metatarsal fracture in his right foot, followed by a ligament concern that limited his playing time and forced him to miss the Copa América in Rio de Janeiro, a tournament Brazil later won without his presence.
A thigh muscle injury in October 2019 cost him more than a month, and a rib issue early the following year trimmed additional weeks. These injuries, while not devastating on their own, began to accumulate and affect his rhythm on the pitch.
Persistent Ankle Problems
In his fourth season in Paris, a combination of muscle issues and an ankle sprain kept him off the field for about three months. His ankles offered little relief, and in November 2021 a serious ankle injury again disrupted a lengthy campaign, sidetracking him for roughly two and a half months. He started the World Cup in Qatar on the right foot but returned to play in the knockouts before Brazil’s exit on penalties to Croatia.
February brought surgery that forced him to miss the remainder of the season. Across six seasons with PSG, Neymar appeared in about 173 matches, scoring around 118 goals and delivering roughly 69 assists. While the numbers in France were not as high as in Barcelona, they still reflect a player of exceptional talent and influence. Al-Hilal’s record signing, for a €90 million fee, featured in only a handful of matches and faced the prospect of missing the rest of the season. The horizon also included Copa America 2024, set to be hosted in the United States, and it remained uncertain whether Neymar would participate given his ongoing rehabilitation and fitness concerns.