While Flamengo is in Montevideo awaiting tonight's match against Defensor Sporting in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores da América, striker Leonardo has been visiting the medical department at Gávea Stadium regularly, following a month-long routine. The player is trying to recover from a sprained left ankle suffered in Flamengo's victory over Friburguense in the penultimate round of the Taça Rio on April 1st. Since then, Leonardo has struggled with the injury and the isolation from the other players.

"It's really bad being out for so long because you lose contact with the group," explains the striker, who is awaiting the results of a detailed examination tomorrow to find out what happened to his ankle. "It was an injury similar to others I've had. I've already had an MRI, and they haven't found the reason for the persistent pain."

Leonardo was injured just as he was starting to establish himself as a regular in the red-and-black team. He had scored in almost every game he started. Besides interrupting a good run, the injury practically ruled him out of the finals of the Campeonato Carioca and the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores.

"I'm quite frustrated. It's the best time to play. The club is going through an important moment, with decisions to be made. I'd like to play in the matches," explains the player.

And the striker isn't alone in his sadness. His family is also suffering from his period of inactivity. Leonardo's parents, from Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area, came especially to Rio de Janeiro to watch the Carioca and Libertadores finals. However, they haven't yet seen their son in the red and black jersey—at least not in person.