Brazil's Neymar (C) leaves the pitch after injury during a friendly soccer match between Brazil and Qatar in Brasilia, Brazil, June 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Ming)

BRASILIA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's preparations for the Copa America suffered a blow on Wednesday when star forward Neymar was injured during a friendly with Qatar.

Neymar limped off the pitch in the 22nd minute of the match at Mane Garrincha stadium after appearing to injure his right ankle in a tackle.

The 27-year-old was later seen crying while being evaluated by medical staff on the Brazil bench.

Neymar missed most of the second half of the 2018-19 season with Paris Saint-Germain because of a fractured metatarsal in his right foot. He started Wednesday's match despite a police investigation launched last Friday into accusations that he raped a women in a Paris hotel.

The Copa America will be played in five Brazilian cities from June 14 to July 7. Brazil have been drawn in Group A alongside Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela.