PSG forward Neymar Jr to undergo ankle surgery, out for rest of the season

Neymar (Image credit: Twitter)

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar Jr will undergo season-ending surgery on his right ankle and will miss the remainder of the season, the French club said on Monday. The Qatar-backed club said Neymar will undergo surgery at a hospital in Doha in the coming days and will be out of football action for at least three months. It also means the 31-year-old will miss the club's Champions League clash at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

The Brazilian forward has suffered a number of problems with his right ankle and was carried off on a stretcher during last month's Ligue 1 clash with Lille. Neymar, who has 13 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 this season, has not played since the incident and has missed PSG's last two matches.

“Neymar Jr has presented several episodes of instability of the right ankle in recent years. Following his last sprain on February 20, the Paris Saint-Germain medical staff recommended a ligament repair operation to avoid a major risk of recurrence. All the experts consulted have confirmed this necessity. A delay of three to four months is expected before his return to training," PSG said in a statement.

Neymar's absence will be a big loss, says PSG coach

Meanwhile, PSG coach Christophe Galtier said Neymar's absence would be a big loss for them going forward. "He is one of the top scorers and assist providers in Ligue 1, so he is a big loss," Galtier said.

"Without Neymar, we may have two midfielders and three attackers or three midfielders and two attackers. There are players who can get in behind from all sorts of different positions," he added.

Following the confirmation that he will be out for the rest of the season, the Brazil international took to social media to tell his fans that "I will come back stronger", with many wishing him a speedy and successful recovery.

I'll come back stronger 🙏 pic.twitter.com/VBTH9MME02

— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) March 6, 2023

This is not the first time the Brazilian sensation has been plagued by ankle issues. He injured the same right ankle in Brazil's opening match at the World Cup in Qatar last year, but was able to return for the tournament. Previously, Neymar missed the final months of the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons due to injury, the latter of which he suffered ankle ligament damage and a broken metatarsal bone in his foot.