Friends Will Be FRIENDS! Messi sends support to Neymar sharing a photo on IG

Lionel Messi has shared a message of support to his former team-mate Neymar after the Brazilian ruptured his ACL and suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee, on national team duty.

The former PSG and Barcelona forward suffered the agonising injury while playing in his nation's 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday evening.

He now faces a race against time to recover ahead of the Copa America in the United States next summer.

And, following the confirmation of the injury, tributes have flooded in for the Al-Hilal star - who could well be ruled for the entirety of the season.

One of the messages of support has come from his former Barcelona and PSG team-mate Lionel Messi, who shared a message via his Instagram page.

The 36-year-old took to social media to share a picture of himself with Neymar, during their Barcelona days, with the message: 'Mucha fuerza!', meaning 'great strength'.

Neymar was in tears as he left the field with an apparent knee injury at the end of the first half of Brazil's World Cup qualifying match.

He collapsed after competing for the ball with Nicolas de la Cruz in the 44th minute, holding his left leg in pain and calling for medical attention as his team-mates looked on anxiously.

Al-Hilal posted on X, formerly called Twitter: 'The medical tests Neymar underwent confirmed the Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Meniscus tear injury in his knee.

'He will be going through surgery and then a treatment program that will be determined later.'

Neymar then took to his own page on X, formerly known as Twitter, in order to confirm the injury and issue a message to his followers.

He said: 'It's a very sad moment, the worst. I know I'm strong but this time I'm going to need my friends (family and friends) even more.

'It's not easy to go through injury and surgery, imagine going through it all again after 4 months of recovery.

'I have faith, too much… But I place the strength in God's hands so that he can renew mine. Thank you for the messages of support and affection'.

Neymar only signed his £130million-per-season contract with the Saudi Arabian club a couple of months ago.

This summer, he completed a £78m move to Al-Hilal and was welcomed by a grand ceremony.

Around 60,000 fans welcomed the Brazilian in a show with fireworks, flashing lights, and words emblazoned in the sky: 'Neymar is Blue'.

It was a major investment in a major player, but for now, Neymar is once again confined to the sidelines.