Friday, 11th July, 2014
A tearful Neymar has claimed that Juan Zuniga’s challenge, which ended his World Cup, could have left him paralysed.
The Brazil star was on the receiving end of a knee-to-the-back challenge from Zuniga during the Selecao’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarter-finals of the World Cup on 4th July.
Neymar had to be carried off the field on a stretcher and medical tests later revealed that he has fractured a vertebra in his spine and will play no further part in the World Cup.
And the Barcelona player broke down while revealing that he narrowly missed out on being paralysed.
"God blessed me”, he was quoted as saying by the BBC.
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"If it had been another two centimetres I could be in a wheelchair today."
Neymar further added that he holds no grudge against Zuniga, who later apologised for the challenge, but the 22-year-old stopped short of forgiving the Colombia international.
"I don't hate him. I don't hold a grudge. But I don't feel anything”, he added.
"It's difficult to talk about a move that ended happening in such an important moment of my career.
"I won't say he came to injure me. I don't what was going on in his head but everyone who understands football can see that it wasn't a normal challenge."
Neymar’s side will conclude their World Cup campaign with a third-spot fixture with the Netherlands tomorrow after losing the semi-final 7-1 to Germany on Tuesday.
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