Neymar ruled OUT of Copa America 2024 as Brazil team doctor outlines risk of 'skipping steps' with Al-Hilal superstar's recovery from ACL surgery

Neymar suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty with Brazil and subsequently underwent surgery in November. It had been thought that the forward could potentially return in time for next summer's Copa America but those hopes have now been dashed by Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who carried out the surgery.

He told Rede 98: "It's too early. 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.

"We need to be patient. Talking about a return before nine months is premature, this is a global concept for knee ligament surgeries recovery. It is very important to respect the biological time, the time the body takes to reconstruct that ligament. If we follow those steps and after a long recovery, the expectation is that he can perform again at a high level."

The news will come as a blow to Brazil as Neymar is the Selecao's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals from just 128 appearances. Yet Brazil hardly lack for quality attacking options, with Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Gabriel Jesus, Lucas Paqueta, Gabriel Martinelli and Richarlison around. Brazil head into the tournament after losing in the final to Argentina last time out in 2021. Fernando Diniz's side will take on Colombia, Paraguay, and either Costa Rica and Honduras in Group D.

Fans will likely have to wait until August to see Neymar back in action, while Brazil will have to find a way to cope without the superstar in the meantime. The Selecao are due to play a friendly against Mexico ahead of next summer's Copa America on June 8, with Brazil's first game scheduled for June 24.