Neymar out for rest of the season due to ankle injury, PSG says

The Brazilian attacker will undergo surgery on his right ankle in Doha, according to the French club.

Brazilian footballer Neymar will undergo surgery on his right ankle before the end of the season and will be out for up to four months, French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) says.

Neymar will miss the club’s Champions League match at Bayern Munich on Wednesday and will undergo surgery in a hospital in Doha, Qatar, in the coming days, PSG said on Monday.

“Neymar Jr. has had several episodes of right ankle instability in recent years,” PSG said in a statement.

“Following his last sprain on February 20, the Paris Saint-Germain medical staff recommended surgery to repair the ligaments to avoid a high risk of recurrence,” the club said. “All the experts consulted have confirmed this necessity.”

The 31-year-old striker, who has scored 13 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 this season, suffered his latest injury in a 4-3 win over Lille last month.

He also injured his right ankle in Brazil’s opening match at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, but was able to return later in the tournament.

Neymar has not played with PSG since he was carried off the pitch against Lille, but his absence coincided with his team’s resurgence as Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi raised their level in recent weeks.

PSG follows Bayern 1-0 for the first leg in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

It is not the first time that the Brazilian attacker has missed important games with PSG. Neymar has been sidelined since joining the club for a record $269 million from Barcelona in 2017 due to foot, groin, rib and ankle injuries.

In 2018, Neymar suffered a foot injury before an important Champions League match against Real Madrid. PSG was eliminated in the last 16 by the Spanish club.

A year later, he missed the last 16 against Manchester United. Neymar was injured again in 2021, this time to his left adductor, and was out when PSG faced Barcelona.

PSG are at the top of the league with an eight-point lead over number two Olympique de Marseille.