2018 FIFA World Cup: Heavyweights Brazil suffer a big blow
What's the story
2018 FIFA World Cup is almost a month away and heavyweights Brazil, who are expected to do great things in Russia, have suffered a big blow.
Right back Dani Alves, one of the vital cogs in the Brazilian line-up, has been ruled out.
Injuries like these are always big calamities for teams.
Here we look at the players who have been ruled out.
Blow
Right-back Alves suffers gruesome knee injury
35-year-old senior player Dani Alves will be gutted after being set to miss out on the coveted World Cup.
His dream of winning one with Brazil has shattered.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender injured his right knee ligament in the French Cup final last week.
The Brazilian Federation confirmed that he will not be fit for the tournament, leaving several fans dejected.
Information
Alves a big miss for 5-time World Cup winners
The former Barcelona player brings a lot to any side and his 106 caps for Brazil says it all. Alves was a part of 2010 and 2014 editions of the World Cup. 2018 would have been his final shot.
Big names
Alves joins Koscielny, Chamberlain in star players to miss out
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, who has been a star player for France, was earlier ruled out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
He suffered an Achilles injury that would keep him out for six months.
French manager Didier Deschamps was left dejected after hearing the news.
England midfielder Alex Oxlade Chamberlain will also miss the tourney in Russia after suffering a knee ligament injury.
Players
Other stars that could miss out on 2018 WC
Germany's central defender Jerome Boateng is doubtful after suffering a thigh injury.
German star keeper Manuel Neuer has resumed training after being out for the entire season. But his participation is not confirmed.
Argentina's Sergio Aguero is racing against time after undergoing a knee surgery.
Several notable players such as Michy Batshuayi (Belgium), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Iceland) and John Stones (England) are all in danger.