Injury ends Neymar’s season early
A difficult chapter for Santos and their star returnee
Neymar’s comeback to Brazilian football was supposed to stabilise both his career and a Santos side battered by inconsistency. Instead, it has taken another sharp turn.
According to a statement released by Santos and echoed across major Brazilian sports outlets, medical examinations confirmed a meniscus injury that will keep the 33-year-old out for the remainder of the 2025 campaign.
The timing could hardly be more damaging for Santos. With the Brasileirão drawing to a close on 7 December, and the club still hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, Neymar will now be watching from the stands as the team enters its final three matches.
Club staff have not provided a detailed timeline, but early medical assessments suggest that a full competitive return is unlikely before well into 2026.
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A year marked by interruptions
The injury adds to what has already been a turbulent twelve months for the forward. Local media report that this is his fourth notable physical setback of the year, extending a pattern that has followed him since his return to Brazil.
A combination of ankle issues, muscle strains, and previous knee discomfort has kept him from building any sustained rhythm since rejoining Santos.
This recurring cycle has reshaped expectations. What began as a high-profile homecoming, accompanied by sold-out matches and rising TV audiences, has shifted into a delicate effort to preserve the player’s fitness.
Analysts in Brazil have noted that Neymar has rarely managed a run of more than a few consecutive games without encountering physical complications.
World Cup implications grow sharper
Beyond club football, the setback carries significant weight for the national team. With the 2026 World Cup just months away, Neymar’s lack of playing continuity is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti, who took charge after the 2024 Copa América, has not selected Neymar in any of his squads so far. In previous press briefings, Ancelotti has maintained that he prefers “players who are available, fit, and competing regularly,” a philosophy that has guided much of his rotation in recent qualifiers.
The discussion among commentators has now shifted from whether Neymar can recover in time, to whether a player with limited competitive action over the past year can realistically be reintegrated into a squad built on athletic consistency and high pressing.
A complicated moment for club and country
For Santos, the loss is immediate and practical. The team had begun adjusting their attacking structure to accommodate Neymar’s mobility and playmaking, and his absence leaves a difficult tactical hole during the tightest part of the campaign.
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Supporters, many of whom were hopeful that his return would provide a spark, now face a familiar mix of concern and resignation.
Across Brazil, the reaction has been similarly cautious. Neymar remains one of the nation’s most recognisable football figures, but each new injury underscores the challenges of prolonging a career built on explosive movement and constant defensive attention.
With 2026 approaching quickly, both the club and national team will enter the coming months navigating uncertainty. Neymar has mounted remarkable comebacks before, but this recovery may demand more patience, planning, and adaptation than any he has attempted so far.
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