Brazil’s Neymar Ruled Out of the World Cup (VIDEO)

UPDATE 9:30 PM ET: NEYMAR HAS BEEN RULED OUT OF THE WORLD CUP 

Brazil’s talismanic superstar Neymar is a serious doubt for the host nation’s semifinal clash against Germany on Tuesday. The FC Barcelona man came into today’s quarterfinal match against nursing an injury.

Neymar showed few effects of that injury for much of today’s 2-1 win over the Colombia. His performance was critical in firing the Brazilians ahead in the match. But in minute 88, the Brazilian attacker was brought down under a challenge by Juan Zuniga who appeared to knee Neymar.

The player was stretchered off and transported to the hospital. It has now been reported by the BBC that Neymar as a fractured vertebrae in the back.

Brazilian Manager  Luiz Felipe Scolari said  immediately after the Colombia match that ”it will be very difficult for Neymar to play.” Scolari said later in his press conference:

“We lost Neymar, which probably based, on what I’m seeing, he won’t be able to play, We knew he would be hunted, so we are in a difficult situation, but we have good players who can come in. I think we will have a great game.

“There will be a series of exams because he was kneed on his lower back and he was crying of pain. We don’t have an idea, but I can guarantee it won’t be easy for him to recover, based on what the doctor told us and the pain he’s in. I don’t know, I really don’t know. I hope it’s OK.”

Brazil will also be without star defender Thiago Silva in the Germany match as he picked up a second yellow of the tournament in the second half today.

Stay tuned to World Soccer Talk for further updates.

Video of the incident is below.