Twenty-three hours on a plane and 11,500 miles travelled in a pandemic... all for NOTHING! Neymar is sent back to Paris by Brazil after they realise he's unfit to play - having called him up despite being injured
- Brazil star Neymar last played on October 28 for PSG in the Champions League
- The Brazil medical staff were hopeful he would prove his fitness for Uruguay
- But they have now released him as he will not overcome a leg injury in time
Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay next week in Montevideo.
The forward arrived in Brazil with a leg injury and although he was certain to miss Friday's game against Venezuela in Sao Paulo, the national team's doctors hoped he would recover in time for the second match in the double header next Tuesday.
That was despite PSG boss Thomas Tuchel insisting he was set to miss four weeks with the issue he sustained in the 26th minute of PSG's 2-0 Champions League win over Istanbul Basaksehir.
![PSG striker Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/11/13/08/35630044-0-image-a-99_1605255794285.jpg)
PSG striker Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay
![PSG boss Thomas Tuchel was insistent that Neymar would not be fit in time to play for Brazil](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/11/13/09/35631106-8945335-image-a-112_1605258847976.jpg)
PSG boss Thomas Tuchel was insistent that Neymar would not be fit in time to play for Brazil
'We were hopeful that he could play, that's why we brought him to Brazil,' team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said late Thursday.
'He improved but not enough so that he'll be ready for the game on Tuesday against Uruguay. The backroom staff decided to release Neymar.'
Now, after an 11-and-a-half hour flight to Sao Paolo in Brazil, Neymar is expected to jump on the next plane back to Paris to complete a nigh-on 11,500-mile round trip, with 23 hours of flying, for nothing.
PSG coach Thomas Tuchel last week said it would be 'impossible' for Neymar to play for Brazil as he recovered from the injury, but Brazil coach Tite insisted that the striker travel.
![Neymar hasn't played since Ocotber 28, when PSG beat Istanbul Basaksehir in Europe](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/11/13/08/35630132-0-image-a-100_1605255912041.jpg)
Neymar hasn't played since Ocotber 28, when PSG beat Istanbul Basaksehir in Europe
![Despite what PSG said, Brazil boss Tite was insistent that Neymar joined up with the squad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/11/13/09/35631098-8945335-image-a-113_1605258874776.jpg)
Despite what PSG said, Brazil boss Tite was insistent that Neymar joined up with the squad
Brazil won both their opening qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last month and are the only side in the 10-team South American section with a 100 per cent record so far.
His attention will now turn to PSG's next match, which is against Monaco on Friday, November 20.
PSG have already established a five-point lead at the summit of the Ligue 1 standings. Monaco, meanwhile, are sixth on 17 points, seven behind Neymar's team.
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