Neymar injury update: Season over for PSG star due to ankle surgery; latest timeline for return

Simon Borg

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Neymar injury update: Season over for PSG star due to ankle surgery; latest timeline for return image

It's the last thing that PSG supporters needed ahead of what was already a difficult Champions League Round of 16 second leg at Bayern Munich: Star attacker Neymar is out for the rest of the season.

Neymar went down with another injury during a victory over LOSC Lille on February 19, with the Brazilian star stretchered off the field after rolling his ankle during the second half of the match.

The injury struck the same right ankle that has caused Neymar problems at the World Cup, and the club announced on March 6 that it will require surgery that will keep him out from three to four months, effectively ending his 2022/23 season.

The Brazilian talent was in the midst of one of his most productive seasons for the club, with 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 matches across all competitions in 2022/23.

PSG are still competing on two fronts this season: PSG are chasing their 11th French Ligue 1 title, with the season wrapping on June 3. They're also on the hunt for their first UEFA Champions League crown, as they tussle with Bayern Munich in the Round of 16. The Champions League final, should they make it that far, is on June 10 in Istanbul.

PSG were previously eliminated in the Coupe de France Round of 16 by Marseille, but they won the season-opening Trophee des Champions against Nantes.

Latest Neymar injury news

The club's injury update detailed the reason for the surgery, highlighting how the pattern of right ankle injuries needed addressing: 

Neymar Jr has sustained a number of instances of instability in his right ankle in recent years. Following his latest sprain on 20 February, 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.

The surgery will be performed in the next few days at the ASPETAR hospital in Doha.

It will take 3 to 4 months before he can return to training with the team.

PSG have offered a fresh update on Neymar's situation, confirming he underwent surgery in Doha today, with the procedure described as 'going very well', and he will return to France to continue his rehabilitation in the coming days.

What is Neymar's injury?

Neymar twisted his right ankle a few minutes into the second half of PSG's Ligue 1 victory over LOSC Lille on February 19.

Video and photos showed the moment that Neymar rolled his ankle on the challenge from Lille's Benjamin Andre, which wasn't reckless but still caused the ankle to roll.

Training staff tended to him on the field and the medics ultimately stretchered him off and he was substituted. He looked to be in agony as he came off the field.

When will Neymar return?

Neymar's updated timeline for a return is now set for the 2023/24 preseason this coming summer.

The 31-year-old has two more seasons left on his PSG contract: 2023/24 and 2024/25, after which he will become a free agent. 

There has been speculation that interest from other clubs, including Chelsea, could see PSG transfer their star in the coming summer transfer window, but the injury could make that a tough proposition given the size of the transfer fee he would command on the market.

Any bidder will likely want to know that Neymar is back to his best before shelling out a massive sum of money to acquire his services. 

Neymar injury history with PSG

The two ankle injuries — both to the right ankle — were the only injury blemish of the 2022/23 season for Neymar thus far. In fact, he had capitalised on his good health to produce at a high level for his club with 18 goals and 17 assists, in addition to helping Brazil reach the World Cup quarterfinals.

According to the Transfermarkt injury tracker, since joining PSG in 2017, Neymar has previously missed the most matches for a metatarsal fracture in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. 

Outside of adductor and hamstring niggles, and sitting out other matches for rest, his next extended absence was caused by a stomach-turning left ankle injury in the 2021/22 season. It's the other ankle that came under duress this time.

Simon Borg

Simon Borg Photo

Simon Borg is a senior editor at The Sporting News who has covered football/soccer for over a decade. A supporter of Italian club Parma Calcio from his years growing up in Europe, he was previously a long-time member of Major League Soccer's digital media team, as a multimedia content producer, on-air personality, and Editor-in-Chief. Based in New York City, Borg is multilingual and has covered the domestic and global scene for TSN since 2021.