In a sad turn of events, Neymar, Brazil’s respected top scorer, found himself facing a challenging rehabilitation process following a November surgery to mend his ruptured ACL. The initial optimism for a swift return to the Copa America was shattered by the sobering words of Brazil’s team doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar, who stressed the crucial need for patience.
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Lasmar’s cautious prognosis pointed towards Neymar’s potential recovery at the start of the 2024 European season in August.
“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”
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The carefully outlined recovery plan proved the importance of respecting the unique biological timeline required for ligament reconstruction. Rodrigo Lasmar explained this better,
“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.”
Sem dor não há cura, sem quedas não há virtude no levantar, e sem dificuldades não há superação.
Sigo na luta 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ZFrKlXD00d— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) December 17, 2023
Brazil condition with Neymar’s absence
Amidst the setback, Brazil remains formidable, boasting an lineup of attacking powerhouses, including Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Gabriel Jesus, Lucas Paqueta, Gabriel Martinelli, and Richarlison. The national team, still reeling from their 2021 final defeat to Argentina, braces for a challenging Group D featuring Colombia, Paraguay, and either Costa Rica or Honduras.
As anticipation simmers for Neymar’s return, fans may have to bide their time until August, witnessing Brazil navigate the Copa America without their talismanic superstar. A friendly against Mexico on June 8 looms on the horizon, setting the stage for Brazil’s inaugural clash on June 24.
