Neymar has joined a long list of famous footballers to have been sidelined during their careers by a metatarsal injury.
The Brazilian superstar is a major doubt for Paris St Germain’s Champions League round-of-16 tie with Real Madrid on March 6 after fracturing a fifth metatarsal and spraining an ankle in Sunday’s Ligue 1 win over rivals Marseille.
Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at some other high profile players who have suffered one of the sport’s most common injuries.
Lionel Messi
Barcelona star Messi required surgery after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot as a 19-year-old in Barcelona’s LaLiga win against Real Zaragoza in November 2006.
Recovery time: Three months
David Beckham
Beckham’s famous injury – he broke a second metatarsal in a Champions League tie for Manchester United against Deportivo La Coruna in April 2002 -caused the nation to hold its breath and almost cost him his place in the England’s World Cup squad the following summer.
Recovery time: Seven weeks
Wayne Rooney
Rooney, who had sustained a similar injury while playing for England as a teenager at Euro 2004, fractured the fourth metatarsal in his right foot during Manchester United’s defeat at Chelsea in April 2006, but made an impressive recovery in time for the World Cup finals in Germany.
Recovery time: Six weeks
John Terry
Former England skipper Terry broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in November last year during Aston Villa’s home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and returned to action the following January.
Recovery time: Nine weeks
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool star Gerrard suffered an identical injury to his left foot in his side’s Premier League defeat at Manchester United in September 2004 and although expected to be out for up to eight weeks, his return to fitness took longer.
Recovery time: 10 weeks
Gabriel Jesus
The Brazilian striker scored three times in his first four appearances for Manchester City before a broken metatarsal, suffered against Bournemouth on February 13, required surgery and ruled him out of action.
Recovery time: 10 weeks
Manuel Neuer
Bayern Munich skipper Neuer has yet to return to action after suffering similar injuries twice in the space of five months. The German goalkeeper broke a metatarsal in his left foot during a Champions League defeat to Real Madrid in April last year and suffered a repeat injury the following September.
Recovery time: Ongoing
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