Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar has revealed what doctors told him after the horrific injury he sustained during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Click through the gallery above to images of Neymar's horror injury in 2014.
The then FC Barcelona man was badly injured in a tackle with Colombian defender Juan Zuniga in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2014, which led to him being ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
Having suffered fractured vertebrae in his back, Neymar was devastated that he was unable to continue playing in the competition, with Brazil losing 7-1 to Germany in the semi-final.
In an interview with his former Barca colleague Gerard Pique, the 25-year-old has now revealed that things could have turned out worse for him.
"I went to the hospital, did the tests and all, and they told me, 'I have two pieces of news. One good and one bad,'" he told Pique for The Players' Tribune.
"And I was like, 'The bad one first.'
"'The bad one: You can't play the World Cup. It's over for you.'
"And I'm like, 'What's the good one?'
"'The good one is that afterward you will be able to walk, because two centimetres to the side (and) football is over for you.'"
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In Russia next year, Neymar will be looking to inspire his country to their first World Cup trophy since 2002 – a tournament famously dominated by legendary striker Ronaldo Nazario.
Do you think Neymar can inspire Brazil to World Cup glory in 2018? Let us know in the comments section below.
