World Cup: Brazil’s Neymar leaves training with ankle injury

June 19 (UPI) — Brazilian striker Neymar left a training session early and was spotted limping during his exit Tuesday in Sochi, Russia.

He participated in the session for about 30 minutes, before being escorted off of the field by the team’s medical staff.

“Neymar complained of ankle pain, due to the number of fouls suffered against Switzerland. Since today was a recovery session for the starters, it was forwarded to physical therapy. Stay there today and tomorrow morning, training tomorrow afternoon,” team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said in a statement.

The Brazilian Football Confederation posted a video from the session before Neymar’s departure. He passed the ball back-and-forth with his teammates, but did not move much during the drill. Another video from Esporte Interativo showed Neymar being bothered with the right ankle ailment and walking out of the drill.

Neymar was fouled 10 times in Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland in its Group E opener on Sunday in Rostov-on-Don.

The Brazilian star underwent surgery after his season ended in February due to a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

“Yes, Switzerland hit us a lot … but all matches will be like this, I guess,” Phillipe Coutinho told reporters after Sunday’s match. “We’re talking about a World Cup so everybody will try to defend their game.

“Neymar is OK, of course. But, as you can see during the match, sometimes the opponents make turns to foul and in many passes when it’s not necessary to foul, you have it and the match gets paralyzed — but that’s how it is.”

Brazil battles Costa Rica in another Group E match at 8 a.m. Friday at Saint Petersburg Stadium.

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