Neymar ruled out of FIFA WC with fractured vertebra

Brazil football ace Neymar has been ruled out of the FIFA World Cup after fracturing a vertebra during his side's 2-1 quarterfinal win over Colombia.

Neymar fractured a vertebra in his spine when Colombia's Juan Zuniga kneed the striker in a challenge that went unpunished.

Neymar was in tears while being carried off on a stretcher from the field, before being taken to a hospital in Fortaleza, the BBC reported.

Brazil football team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said that Neymar was going to be hunted, adding that it had been happening for three matches.

Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar revealed that unfortunately, the striker is not going to be able to play and said that it is not serious in the sense that it does not need surgery, but Neymar would need to immobilize it to recover.

Lasmar added that he expected the recovery period to take at least a few weeks.

Neymar, who recovered from thigh and knee injuries sustained in the second-round win over Chile to play against Colombia, has featured in all five of Brazil's matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and is their top scorer with four goals.

Neymar was replaced in the 88th minute after Zuniga challenged him for a header, with referee Carlos Velasco Carballo taking no action.

Zuniga insisted that he never meant to hurt the player, adding that it was a normal move as he was playing for the shirt of his country.