Neymar has torn ACL, set for surgery after injury with Brazil

Brazilian star Neymar suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during his country’s World Cup qualifying loss to Uruguay on Tuesday, Brazil and his Saudi club Al Hilal announced Wednesday.

The 31-year-old will undergo surgery and is set to be sidelined for several months.

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“Striker Neymar Jr. of the Brazilian team and Al-Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, underwent clinical and imaging tests this Wednesday, which confirmed the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee,” Brazil’s Football Confederation said in a statement.

“The striker will undergo a surgical procedure, on a date yet to be defined, to correct the injuries. The Brazilian National Team’s medical department, under the supervision of Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar, and Al Hilal, are in permanent contact and aligned in the player’s recovery.”

Neymar tripped and fell during a run in the 44th minute of Brazil‘s 2-0 loss at the Centenario Stadium and was immediately surrounded by players from both teams as he held his left knee.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward was carried off on a stretcher as he held his hands to his face, while teammate Richarlison came on to replace him.

Neymar made his national team debut in 2010 and has a record 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, but he has struggled with injuries for both club and country in recent years.

He has missed multiple months in each of the past two seasons with different ankle injuries and sat out two World Cup games in Qatar after going down in Brazil’s opener against Serbia.

After six years at PSG, Neymar joined Al Hilal in the big-spending Saudi Pro League for a fee of €90 million ($98.6m) in August.