B
Neymar was immediately taken to the hospital, where he underwent extensive tests. In that match, Brazil defeated Colombia 2-1 and reached the World Cup semi-finals. However, they were defeated by the future world champions Germany 1-7.
After a few years break, Neymar himself spoke about the very painful injury and what he experienced back then.
"When I was hit, I felt everything and tried to stand up. I endured great pain and when my head was on the ground, I heard Marcelo say, 'Call the doctors quickly.' But I asked them not to do that, as I wanted to continue playing and score a goal.
"However, I couldn't even turn around and the doctors arrived. I couldn't lift my legs, couldn't move them, and the doctors carried me off, and I started crying because I was in great pain and felt nothing. I couldn't feel my legs and ended up in the stadium's hospital.
"I remember they left me there and when I tried to straighten out my bent leg... the pain was incredible. That's when I realized that I couldn't continue the match," Neymar said.
The footballer revealed that the injury was so serious that he could have never walked again.
"Then they took me to another hospital, performed all the tests, and said, 'We have two news: good and bad. The bad news is that the World Cup is already over for you. And the good news - you will still be able to walk, because if the injury had been two centimeters into the spine... Football would have ended for you.' And then I just wanted them to tell that to my family.
They were all there: my girlfriend, father, mother, and sister. They were finally able to visit me and that's when a very bad week began. I watched the semi-final at home, because when I packed my things from the camp, I came home by helicopter because I couldn't move my legs. I was in a wheelchair, returned home, and watched everything from there," Neymar recalled.
