Brazil pair Neymar and Danilo ruled out for rest of World Cup group stage

PSG attacker and Juve defender both struggling with ankle problems

Brazil forward Richarlison (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal in the 2-0 win against Serbia at the Lusail Stadium on November 24, 2022. AFP

Richarlison celebrates after scoring his second goal. EPA

Richarlison celebrates. EPA

Richarlison in the middle of the celebrations after firing Brazil into a 1-0 lead. AFP

Richarlison celebrates after scoring Brazil's first goal. AFP

Richarlison scores the second goal with a spectacular overhead kicks. PA

Brazil and Richarlison celebrate the second goal. PA

Brazil's Neymar in action. Reuters

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group G - Brazil v Serbia - Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar - November 24, 2022 Brazil's Neymar reacts after a challenge from Serbia'a Sasa Lukic REUTERS / Amanda Perobelli TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Richarlison of Brazil with a moment of class. Getty

Neymar on the bench after being replaced. PA

Brazil coach Tite greets Neymar as he is replaced. AFP

Neymar and Vinicius Junior celebrate after the opening goal. EPA

Gabriel Jesus takes on the Serbian defence. AFP

Brazil duo Neymar and Danilo will miss their country's remaining two World Cup group games due to injury.

Neymar sprained his ankle in the second half of a bruising 2-0 win against Serbia on Thursday and was in tears while sitting on the bench with ice around his right ankle.

Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said tests conducted on Neymar's injury showed that the Paris Saint-Germain attacker has a ligament injury and will not be fit to play against Switzerland on Monday.

There was no timetable for Neymar's recovery but Lasmar said the situation of Juventus full-back Danilo, who has an injury to his left ankle, was similar to Neymar's and is also ruled out.

Adding to Brazil's problems, Manchester United winger Antony and West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta are both ill and could also miss the match. The South Americans take on African side Cameroon in their final group game next Friday.

“Neymar and Danilo went through an MRI on Friday afternoon and we found ligament damage in the ankle of both of them,” Lasmar told reporters.

“They will miss the next game for sure and we will be cautious as they will undergo treatment in order to try to get them in shape so they can play again in the World Cup.”

If Neymar can't play, his replacement would likely be Rodrygo, who came in as a second-half substitute against Serbia on Thursday.

The 30-year-old Neymar was also hurt at the 2014 World Cup on home turf in Brazil, when his tournament ended with a back injury in the quarter-finals against Colombia. He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher, and Brazil ended up being humiliated 7-1 against Germany in the semi-final.

Neymar's right foot has caused him problems in the past, being among a series of injuries he suffered since the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Another right ankle sprain led him to miss the 2019 Copa America that Brazil won.

Brazil 2 Serbia 0: player ratings