Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar Jr. has been ruled out for the rest of the season after being scheduled to undergo surgery to repair some damaged ankle ligaments, PSG confirmed on Monday. The Brazilian is set to be out for three months, effectively meaning that his season has come to a premature end.
“Neymar Jr. has had several episodes of instability in his right ankle in recent years,” PSG announced in a statement. “Following his last sprain contracted on Feb. 20, the medical staff … recommended a ligament repair operation to avoid a major risk of recurrence. All the experts consulted have confirmed this necessity.”
The 31-year-old forward was injured during his team’s 4-3 victory over Lilli last month. According to PSG manager Christophe Galtier, Neymar’s absence would be a major loss, especially when considering the 13 goals and 11 assists that he has contributed in Ligue 1 this season. He is expected to undergo surgery in Doha, Qatar.
PSG is currently at the top of Ligue 1 with an eight-point lead over second-placed Marseille. The team is set to face Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash, which they currently trail 1-0.
