It's official. Neymar will not be playing in the return leg of PSG's Champions League clash with Madrid after opting to undergo surgery to ensure he's fit for the World Cup in June.
The situation has raised numerous questions over how to manage your key players in the run-up to important matches, especially at the Bernabeu.
Following images of the Brazilian being carried off on a stretcher, Zinedine Zidane chose to rest Ronaldo for their La Liga fixture with Espanyol, which his team lost 1-0.
It was another defeat in a disappointing season for 'Los Blancos' as it appears they have become overly reliant on their Portuguese forward - losing at least half of their matches when he doesn't feature in the squad.
With Madrid still fighting to secure automatic Champions League qualification in La Liga, and another league fixture at the weekend before their trip to Paris, Zidane has a conundrum on how to utilise Ronaldo from now until next Tuesday.
The team cannot afford to lose their talisman - the player who has contributed the most goals so far this season - to an injury just before the return leg as an away goal might been needed to cancel out that of Adrien Rabiot at the Bernabeu.
All eyes will therefore be on Ronaldo from now until the players walk out of the Parc des Princes' tunnel on March 6.