Neymar’s Back Injury On The Mend, Should Be Ready For Start Of Season
Any soccer fan watching the 2014 World Cup quarterfinal between Colombia and Brazil, winced in pain when they saw how Neymar suffered his back injury. Now, a few weeks after the tournament ended for the Brazilian striker, he says he is recovering nicely and getting ready to start La Liga’s season with Barcelona.
It’s been a tough time for Neymar, who carried the hopes of an entire country during the World Cup and suffered the debilitating injury, which forced him to watch helplessly as Brazil was crushed by Germany in a historic 7-1 semifinal defeat. Later on in the match for the third place, a Neymar-less Brazil lost to the Netherlands 3-0, ending the dream of avenging the 1950 Maracanazo.
Neymar’s injury was a serious one and doctors did not allow him to continue playing in the World Cup. During the crushing loss to Germany — the worst in the history of the four-times World Cup winners — it was reported that Neymar stopped watching from home and decided to play poker instead. It was too painful.
While he recovers from his back injury, Neymar is on a promotional tour in Tokyo, where he is filming a promotional ad campaign for a Japanese mattress company.
“It’s all good. My back is improving. It’s almost 100 percent,” Neymar said. “I’m looking forward to joining my (Barcelona) teammates and helping them win the title.”
During the semifinal between Brazil and Colombia, Juan Zuniga hit Neymar in the back, fracturing his vertebrae. For a time, it was uncertain what the true nature of the injury was and stunned fans could only watch in shock as their superstar and team leader was carried off the field on a stretcher.
At the time, some reports suggested that Neymar’s injury could have paralyzed him for life, if it had happened just a few inches away. Luckily for him, rest and rehab was all that was needed and now, the 22-year-old is more than ready to play for Barcelona again.
Prior to his injury, Neymar was a top contender for the Golden Boot — which ultimately was awarded to another 22-year-old, James Rodriguez, from Colombia — as he scored four goal in five games at the time. His goals amounted to half of Brazil’s total goals.
Neymar is expected to make his post-injury debut on August 18, against the Mexican club León, in a friendly at the Camp Nou. Last season Barcelona ended without any trophies for the first time in six-years and fans are eager to see the club back in action. Neymar has vowed to bring back Barca to its rightful place at the top of the Spanish League table.
[Image via AGIF / Shutterstock.com]
