In a World Cup qualifying clash, Brazilian forward Neymar did not complete the match against Uruguay. He exited the field at halftime visibly distraught, tears in his eyes, and was carried off on a stretcher. Richarlison came on to replace him, entering a high-stakes contest that would continue without Neymar for the remainder of the game.
The match concluded with a 2-0 win for the reigning world champions, while Lionel Messi added a brace to his tally, delivering a standout performance for Argentina. The win reinforced Argentina’s position at the top of the group on 12 points after four rounds of play.
Trailing in second place were four teams—Uruguay, Brazil, Venezuela, and Ecuador—each locked at seven points as the standings tightens ahead of forthcoming fixtures. These results set the stage for an intensely contested qualification phase, with every point carrying substantial weight for the teams involved.
Across the qualifying campaign, Neymar contributed in four matches, recording two goals and three assists, underscoring his role as a key offensive engine for Brazil. His presence on the field has long been tied to Brazil’s attack, where his creativity and pace often stretched opposition defenses and created scoring chances for teammates.
Neymar’s club career includes a notable stint with Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, marking his first experience outside Brazil. Since 2017 he has worn the colors of Paris Saint-Germain, earning multiple domestic titles in France. In the summer of 2023, the Saudi club Al-Hilal secured his services for a reported transfer fee of 90 million euros, and he has since featured in multiple matches for the club, contributing his experience and skill to their attack as part of a broader project in the region’s football landscape.
Earlier reports noted that Lionel Messi achieved a historic milestone in the match against Uruguay, adding to the narrative of a competitive and record-chasing rivalry within the South American qualifiers. This ongoing storyline continues to shape the dynamics of the group as teams push for qualification and regional bragging rights.