"What hurts the most is that I worked so hard to be able to play in this World Cup. But that's a thing of life” , said Edmilson after he was dropped from Brazil’s national team due to an injury.

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his assistant coach Mario Zagallo made the announcement along with the doctors and Cafu, the team’s captain. Sao Paulo midfielder Mineiro will take Edmilson’s place in the team.

Edmilson has an injury in his right knee, the same one that has been bothering him since the semifinals of the Champions League on April 26. "He was undergoing treatment and had improved, but he felt pain again during the match and we decided to do a more complete examination", doctor Jose Luiz Runco said. "The results showed the injury is not compatible with his participation in the World Cup."

The player will return to Brazil to have a surgery next week.