Neymar ruled out for the season; Messi offers hope of PSG extension amid Inter Miami links

Neymar will undergo ankle surgery and miss the rest of the season as a result, French champions Paris Saint-Germain revealed on Monday.

The 31-year-old Brazilian striker was injured against Lille last month.

A statement from the Ligue 1 club read: "Neymar Jr has had several episodes of right ankle instability in recent years.

"Following his last sprain contracted on February 20, the medical staff of Paris St Germain recommended a ligament repair operation, in order to avoid a major risk of recurrence.

"All the experts consulted confirmed this need. This operation will be performed in the coming days at ASPETAR Hospital in Doha.

“A delay of three to four months is to be expected before his return to collective training.”

PSG take on Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday, looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the first game.

Neymar has scored 18 goals and 17 assists in 29 appearances in all competitions this season.

Meanwhile, Neymar's club-mate Lionel Messi has raised hopes that he will stay in the French capital beyond 2022-23.

Messi joined the Parisians in the summer of 2021 after a glorious 21-year career at Barcelona.

He had a decent first season with PSG, but his performances were far from his usual flawless standards.

However, the Argentine captain really stepped up to that tenure and guided his country to World Cup glory in December.

With his contract expiring this summer, Messi's future is up in the air. He has been linked with MLS side Inter Miami, which is owned by David Beckham and managed by Phil Neville.

Speaking to PSG's YouTube channel, Messi admitted he is now settled in Paris, giving hope to club fans that he will sign a new contract.

"The truth is that I feel good," Messi said. "The first year, I had a hard time adapting to Paris for different reasons.

"This season, I started differently, with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of desire. [I am] more at ease with the club, the city and everything that Paris represents."

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