NeyMar out of Worldcup with Injury ....nearly missed paralysis says doctor

Brazil star Neymar ‘could have been paralysed’ if he had been hit in the back one inch higher during his team’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win over Colombia on Friday.

The 22-year-old was stretchered off in the 88th minute in tears after he had been kneed from behind by Juan Zuniga – in a challenge that the Colombia player did not receive any punishment for.

Team doctor, Rodrigo Lasma, told Brazilian TV afterwards that Neymar had fractured his vertebra in his spine and would miss the rest of the tournament although he wouldn’t require surgery for the injury.