Boca Juniors' record goalscorer Martin Palermo is out for up to eight months after damaging ligaments in his right knee, team officials said.

Palermo was due to have an operation and would be out for anywhere "between five and eight months", club doctor Juan Martin Veiga told La Nacion newspaper.

The 34-year-old former Argentina striker landed badly on his knee during yesterday's 2-1 home win over Lanus in the Apertura championship.

Palermo suffered a similar injury to the same knee in 1999, which put him out for six months, and also broke his leg playing for Villarreal in Spain in 2001.

He became Boca's joint highest scorer two weeks ago when he equalled the club record of 194 goals set by 1930s striker Francisco Varallo.

Boca, who scored through Colombian Fabian Vargas and substitute Cristian Chavez, are the only team with a perfect record in the tournament having won their two matches.

They have six points, one less than joint leaders Colon and Tigre who have played three games.

Champions River Plate, Boca's biggest rivals, have four points following their 2-1 defeat at Banfield on Saturday.