By Victor Kanayo
Brazil will find out the extent of Neymar’s ankle injury within the next 48 hours after the forward limped out of their 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday night.
The five-time World Cup winners ran out comfortable winners, thanks to Richarlison’s second-half double, but the victory was marred by Neymar coming off injured with 10 minutes to go.
Tottenham’s Richarlison scored twice to hand Brazil a perfect start in Group G but the bad news is that they could now be without their talisman.
The 30-year-old was in tears as he was being treated by physios and was consoled by his Brazil teammates.
As he visibly limped off the pitch to Brazil’s dressing room, pitchside photographers captured the immediate swelling to his right ankle.
Neymar’s fleet-footed work in the build-up did not go unnoticed as he evaded several challenges on a night where he was fouled nine times.
Richarlison’s then stole the show, as he controlled in scoring one of goals before turning with the ball in the air to acrobatically volley it into the net.
In doing so, Richarlison became the first Brazilian to score twice on his World Cup debut since Neymar in 2014.
The goalscorer was then replaced six minutes after bagging his brace, but the condition of Neymar has no doubt dominated the headlines.
Neymar sat on the turf clutching his ankle before he was substituted after 80 minutes and looked in despair on the bench.
After the game, he hobbled through the mixed zone media area with his headphones on, not pausing to stop to chat as his team-mates shielded him from reporters.
Brazil now waits on the news of his scan with bated breath.
