Neymar needs ankle surgery, will miss remainder of season

Neymar's troublesome right ankle has ended his season.

The Brazilian forward will undergo surgery to repair ligaments damaged last month "in order to avoid a major risk of recurrence," Paris Saint-Germain announced Monday. He'll be sidelined for 3-4 months, effectively ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Neymar, 31, was stretchered off in tears when he sustained his latest ankle ailment in a dramatic 4-3 win over Lille on Feb. 19. The club noted that he's had "several episodes of instability in the right ankle in recent years," prompting the decision to go under the knife. He injured the same ankle at the World Cup in Qatar.

The operation will take place in Doha "in the next few days."

The Ligue 1 season ends June 3. PSG could conceivably play until June 10 if they reach the Champions League final; they'll look to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg of their last-16 tie against Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Even if they reach that showpiece match, which will be played in Istanbul, Neymar would require an expedited recovery to be fit in time to feature.

With 13 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1, the oft-injured Brazilian is second behind only teammate Lionel Messi for total goal involvements in France's top flight this season.