Neymar injury update: Latest on status of PSG star’s ankle for Champions League return vs Bayern Munich

It’s the last thing PSG supporters wanted to see before a critical part of the 2022/23 season: Neymar picked up another injury in a win over LOSC Lille on February 19.

The Brazil star was carried off the field after twisting his ankle in the second half of his side’s Ligue 1 home game.

Lille’s Benjamin Andre’s tackle wasn’t reckless but contact with Neymar’s right foot sent him rolling as he hit the pitch.

The injury hit the same right ankle that has troubled Neymar in the recent past and only increased concerns about his situation.

Latest Neymar injury news

After the Lille game, PSG manager Christophe Galtier confirmed that Neymar has suffered a sprained ankle and that he is undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury.

What is Neymar’s injury?

Neymar twisted his right ankle minutes into the second half of PSG’s Ligue 1 win over LOSC Lille on 19 February.

Videos and photos showed the moment Neymar twisted his ankle during Benjamin Andre’s challenge.

The training staff attended to him in the field and the paramedics eventually carried him off the stretcher and he was substituted. He appeared to be in pain coming off the field.

When will Neymar return?

Neymar’s timetable for a return will clearly depend on the severity of the ankle sprain.

During the 2022 World Cup, Neymar had to sit out 11 days after suffering an injury in the opening game against Serbia on November 24. He started Brazil’s round of 16 first leg against South Korea and scored a 13th-minute penalty in their 4-1 win.

The key game on PSG’s upcoming schedule is the UEFA Champions League second leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday 8 March. There are 17 days left until this competition.

PSG are aiming to win the club’s first Champions League and elimination at the first hurdle in the knockout stages would be a failure for the star-studded side. To only reach the quarterfinals of the competition, PSG need to win in Munich.

Next games from PSG:

• Sun, February 26: near Marseille (League 1)
• Sat, March 4th: against Nantes (League 1)
• Wed, March 8: at FC Bayern (Champions League second leg)
• Sun, March 12: in Brest (Ligue 1)
• Sun, March 19: against Rennes (League 1)
• Sun, April 2nd: against Lyon (League 1)

Neymar’s injury history at PSG

The two ankle injuries – both to the right ankle – have been Neymar’s only injury mistake of the 2022/23 season so far. In fact, he has used his good health to play at a high level with 13 goals and 11 assists for his club and helped Brazil reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

According to Transfermarkt’s injury tracker, Neymar has missed most games in both 2017/18 and 2018/19 with a metatarsal fracture since joining PSG in 2017.

Aside from adductor and Achilles tendon problems and sitting out other games to recover, his next extended absence was caused by a stomach-twisting left ankle injury in the 2021–22 season. This time the other ankle is under pressure.