Brazil confederation: Neymar operation went perfectly

Brazil's Paris St Germain forward Neymar has had a successful operation on his injured foot and ankle, the Brazilian Football Confederation said in a statement Saturday. The world's most expensive player was operated on by the Brazil national team doctor in Belo Horizonte to repair the fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle he suffered in last weekend's French league match against Olympique Marseille. Rodrigo Lasmar inserted a pin in the fifth metatarsal and the procedure "went perfectly," the CBF said in words almost identical to those used by the French club in their statement.

Neymar’s surgery successful but now begins the long wait for PSG & Brazil https://t.co/y2aC330lJ0 pic.twitter.com/LC8eSzrHMw

— The Field (@thefield_in) March 4, 2018

"The post-op rehabilitation will begin immediately with the presence of a PSG physiotherapist," the CBF added. "He will be re-evaluated in around six weeks in order to specify a possible date when he can return to training." Fans waited outside the Mater Dei hospital Saturday morning to chant Neymar's name and lend their support to Brazil's 26-year-old talisman.

#PSG have announced #Neymar will be able to return to training in 6 weeks if all goes well following his successful surgery.

— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) March 4, 2018

Although the injury is expected keep Neymar out of action for up to three months, doctors say he will be back in time for the World Cup which kicks off in Russia in June. Brazil start their campaign against Switzerland on June 17 before facing Costa Rica and Serbia. Neymar, who became the world's most expensive player last August when PSG paid 222m euros ($271m) to sign him from Barcelona, has 53 goals in 83 games for Brazil, with 28 goals and 16 assists for the Ligue 1 leader this season.