Messi Sends Message of Support to Neymar After Devastating ACL Injury

• Lionel Messi has sent his well wishes to former teammate Neymar
• Neymar suffered a knee ligament damage while in action for Brazil
• The Brazilian star could miss up to a year of action due to the injury

Lionel Messi has sent a touching message to Neymar after the Brazilian international suffered a season-ending injury during the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay.

The 31-year-old Al-Hilal forward left the pitch in tears after he was stretchered off, with doctors confirming he had suffered knee ligament damage and would be out for several months.

According to GOAL, Messi - who played alongside Neymar at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain - sent a consoling message to his former teammate, wishing him strength during the tough times.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is good friends with Brazil’s all-time goal-scorer, posted the message on Instagram alongside an image of the pair celebrating a goal together at Barcelona.

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Neymar will be sidelined for at least a few months and possibly up to a year, with there being potential he may miss next year's Copa America in the United States.

Neymar to undergo surgery after ACL injury

Meanwhile, Neymar requires surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee, which ruled him out for the rest of the 2023/24 season, Sky Sports reports.

The 31-year-old forward’s Saudi Arabian club, Al-Hilal did not disclose how long he is expected to be out when giving an update on the latest setback for the Brazilian international.

However, the club has confirmed Neymar will need surgery and will undergo a treatment programme that will be determined later as he gets set to miss the rest of the 2023/24 season.

Neymar pens emotional statement

Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Neymar's deep physical and emotional pain, expressing as much after the severity of his injury and the timeline for his recovery were stated.

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The Al-Hilal star was stretchered off during Brazil's 2-0 loss to Uruguay in the CONMEBOL edition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, after which the worst was confirmed.

The former PSG attacker suffered a season-ending injury in February, which meant the game against Lille was his last competitive outing for the club before his departure.