Neymar Reveals What Doctors Told Him After 2014 World Cup Injury

The World Cup of three years ago was synonymous not just as the host nation but because of their incredible collapse against Germany and the moment that Neymar was carried off the pitch against Colombia.

In 2014 the hopes of a nation rested on the shoulders of Neymar, the star of Brazil's World Cup squad and as home nation the expectation was even higher but an injury in the quarter final ended his tournament.

Neymar bagged four goals in the tournament and as the hosts moved through the Group Stages and into the knockout stages he was the man who could take them to a tournament win on home soil.

Then came his back injury after a challenge from Juan Zuniga, the moment his teammates held up his shirt in the semi-final and their eventual capitulation.

_{Brazil players acted as if Neymar had died before their infamous semi final. Image: PA Images.}

In an interview with former Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique with the Players Tribune the PSG forward revealed exactly what the doctors said to him in hospital after the challenge:

"I remember that I had my head on the ground, and Marcelo was saying, 'No, no ... Get the doctors in.' And I said, 'No, no, no. I want to play.' Because I wanted to score. Because I was crazy. Hahaha! I couldn't turn and the doctors came in.

"'How's it going?'

"'No, no, no, I'm going to to continue.'

"And so on....

_{The challenge that ended Neymar's World Cup dreams. Image: PA Images.}

"But I couldn't manage to lift my legs. I couldn't move my legs. And the doctor took me out and I started to cry. Because it was very painful and I didn't feel anything. I didn't feel my legs, so I went to the hospital that's in the stadium. And there they left me and I remember that I was with my leg bent like this, and when I stretched it out, ouf ... incredible pain, incredible. And then I understood that there was no way to continue."

"Then I went to the hospital, did the tests and all, and they told me, 'I have two pieces of news. One good and one bad.'

"And I was like, 'The bad one first.'

"'The bad one: You can't play the World Cup. It's over for you.'

"And I'm like, 'What's the good one?'

"'The good one is that afterward you will be able to walk, because two centimeters to the side football is over for you.'"

The 25 year old was a mere 2cm from having his career ended!

Topics: Colombia, Neymar, injury, World Cup, 2014 World Cup, Brazil

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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