Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed Neymar will stay out of action until 2021.
The Brazil star was absent for PSG’s last game, a 2-0 win over Lorient in Ligue 1, due to an ankle injury suffered against Lyon.
He is now set to miss Sunday’s crucial game away at Lille.
With 15 games played, PSG are one point behind Lille at the top of the table, with Christophe Galtier’s side having only suffered one defeat in the league compared to PSG’s four.
Neymar will also miss the home game with Strasbourg on Wednesday, December 23, which is PSG's last game of the year.
A club statement confirmed he was expected to return in January, but did not provide further details.
PSG have five league games to negotiate in January, starting at Saint-Etienne on January 6, as well as the Trophee des Champions match against Marseille a week later.
Thomas Tuchel had previously suggested he was hopeful of having Neymar back for the Lille game, but those hopes have been dashed.
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He posted on Instagram: “It could have been worse, but once again God saved me from something serious. My cry was of pain, despair, fear, anguish, surgery, crutches and other horrible memories. I hope to recover and return as quickly as possible.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago