Brazil forward Neymar will miss the 2024 Copa America in the United States as he continues to recover from the serious knee injury that he suffered in October. “It’s too early,” Brazil’s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed. “There’s no point in skipping steps to recover sooner and taking unnecessary risks. Our expectation is that he will be prepared to return at the start of the 2024 season in Europe, which is August.”
Neymar tore the cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee during his country’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay in their World Cup qualifier on October 18. He underwent surgery two weeks later. This injury came just two months after he arrived at Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2024 Copa America will take place from June 20 until July 14, just weeks before Neymar’s expected return from injury. The forward’s absence will be of grave concern to Brazil, given that he is the nation’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 129 appearances. Brazil find themselves in Group D, alongside Colombia, Paraguay, and the winner of the playoff between Costa Rica and Honduras.
