Neymar has insisted he will "come back stronger" after suffering the devastating news that he will miss the rest of the season through injury.
The Brazilian was forced off soon after scoring in Paris Saint-Germain's thrilling 4-3 win over Lille a fortnight ago. He underwent an MRI scan after that game and was subsequently diagnosed with a sprained ankle, missing PSG's last two matches as a result.
Further action will need to be taken to aid his recovery, with Neymar having struggled with ankle problems for several years. PSG confirmed on Monday evening that he would be sent for surgery and miss the rest of the season.
"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," a club statement read.
"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."
The news is a huge blow for PSG as they prepare for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich. Neymar has scored 18 goals and notched 17 assists in all competitions this season.
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In an update on Monday, he insisted that he will return to have a huge impact once he has recovered from his surgery. The Brazilian posted a picture of himself looking dejected on Instagram with the simple caption: "I'll come back stronger."
PSG boss Christophe Galtier was left fuming by the injury to one of his star players and blasted his side's hectic schedule as one of the core reasons behind Neymar's injury issues.
“This is not bad luck,” Galtier said after the win over Lille. “There are always reasons for injuries - the schedule, the sequence of games. It is never random. He (Neymar) is being examined to know the severity of his sprain.
“Of course, it complicates things and that’s the way it is. We have to keep our heads down. We’re going to do it again, but with a victory. That is more pleasant.”
Galtier confirmed last week that Neymar would also miss the trip to Bayern, as well as the weekend's clash with Nantes. He said: "I think he will forfeit against Bayern Munich.
“In the next two matches, we won't have Ney available. With the absence of Ney, instead of having two midfielders, we will be with three midfielders and two attackers. To tell you that Ney 's absence is trivial, no. This is a detrimental absence for us."
There are growing fears that the Brazilian may have played his last game for PSG due to a reported feud with Kylian Mbappe. Neymar still has two more years to run on his contract, but the likelihood of a summer departure is growing.
In February, Mirror Football reported that PSG were preparing for Neymar's exit at the end of the season. Neymar has seen his influence wain following the decision to hand Mbappe a bumper contract and has clashed with the Frenchman.
