Lucas Moura was stretchered off after just 12 minutes on the pitch struggling to breathe after suffering two fractured ribs in Sao Paulo's 1-0 defeat to Atletico Mineiro and is undergoing tests in hospital
Nathan Ridley Senior Sports Reporter and Neil Docking
10:30, 19 Mar 2026Updated 10:35, 19 Mar 2026
Lucas Moura injury
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Lucas Moura suffered a horror injury(Image: Globo Esporte)
Tottenham legend Lucas Moura was rushed to hospital after sustaining a horrific injury which left him struggling to breathe.
Moura, 33, took blows to the face and ribs during Sao Paulo's 1-0 defeat away to Atletico Mineiro on Wednesday. The Brazilian started on the bench but came on as a substitute in the 60th minute, however, he was back off 12 minutes later when Mineiro midfielder Tomas Cuello crashed into the back of him, reports the Mirror.
As well as being hit in the face by Cuello's knee, the ex-Spurs forward suffered two fractured ribs, Sao Paulo have confirmed. Moura was having difficulty breathing and had to be stretchered off as he was replaced by Gonzalo Tapia.
Lucas Moura netted a hat-trick against Ajax in 2019, firing Tottenham to the Champions League final and earning himself legendary status in North London
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Lucas Moura netted a hat-trick against Ajax in 2019, firing Tottenham to the Champions League final and earning himself legendary status in North London(Image: Getty Images)
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Sao Paulo say the 33-year-old is undergoing tests at a hospital in Belo Horizonte. A statement from the club read: "After suffering a trauma during the match this Wednesday against Atletico Mineiro, the attacking midfielder Lucas underwent imaging exams at Hospital Mater Dei in Belo Horizonte and was diagnosed with fractures in two ribs.
"The athlete is under evaluation at the hospital, awaiting clearance to return to the capital of Sao Paulo and continue treatment at Sao Paulo."
Moura has been instrumental in Sao Paulo's strong start to the season, with Roger Machado's team entering Wednesday's match undefeated after six games. However, they missed the opportunity to leapfrog Palmeiras at the top of the league table, with whom they now share an identical record.
Moura made the move to Sao Paulo when he departed Tottenham in the summer of 2023 upon the end of his contract. The former Paris Saint-Germain star spent five years in North London and cemented his status as a cult hero with his unforgettable hat-trick against Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-finals.
Lucas Moura fell in a sickening collision
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Lucas Moura fell in a sickening collision(Image: Globo Esporte)
Moura netted a thrilling 96th-minute winner in Amsterdam to clinch the tie on away goals after Spurs suffered a 1-0 loss in the first leg. They faced Liverpool in that year's final, losing 2-0.
Before leaving Tottenham, Moura said: "I don't want to think about my last day here, but the feeling is that I gave everything. I have just one word to talk about it, it's 'special'."
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"Five years with you, I don't have words to thank you for the support, for the affection... I just need to say thank you. I will keep you in my heart forever. I love Spurs, it was a great adventure to play for you and you can be sure that every time that I was on the pitch I tried to make you happy."
"I tried my best, I gave 100 per cent every time to show to you my passion, how I love Spurs, how I love to play football and it was amazing to play for you. Thank you. I will keep supporting you. I will be Spurs forever..."