Neymar has ACL surgery in Brazil

Brazil forward Neymar went through ACL and meniscus surgery on Thursday at a hospital in the city of Belo Horizonte, local media reported.

The procedure was performed by national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.

Neymar’s surgery took four hours, according to website Globo Esporte. The 31-yearold, who is expected to be discharged from the Mater Dei hospital on Saturday, injured his left knee in the first half of Brazil’s 2-0 loss to Uruguay on Oct. 17 in a World Cup qualifying match.

The recovery is expected to take between six and 12 months. He is likely to miss the next

Copa America, which will be played in the United States in June.

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer was on crutches as he left Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.