BUENOS AIRES, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Colombia international midfielder Juan Fernando Quintero is set to miss this year's Copa America after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Argentina's River Plate on Sunday.
The 26-year-old was forced off the pitch just before the hour mark after his left knee buckled under a challenge from Jorge Figal in River's 3-0 home victory over Independiente in the Superliga Argentina.
Scans showed the former Porto and Rennes playmaker sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, River said in a brief statement.
The news is a major blow to both River Plate and Colombia. Quintero, scorer of River's decisive extra-time goal in a 3-1 win against arch rivals Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores final last December, will miss the remainder of the Superliga Argentina season and the Recopa Sudamericana, scheduled for May 22 and 29.
He will also miss the Copa America, to be played in Brazil from June 14 to July 7. Colombia have been drawn in the same group as Argentina, Paraguay and Qatar for the continental tournament.
Quintero last month signed an improved contract that extends to 2022 and reportedly includes a 30 million-euro buyout clause.
