Neymar will undergo knee surgery after battling through injury to help Santos secure their top-flight status with a decisive 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro on Sunday, a contribution that may have come at a high personal cost, further clouding his prospects of playing at next year’s World Cup.
The 33-year-old returned to Santos in January following a spell in Saudi Arabia and proved instrumental in dragging his boyhood club away from relegation danger. Despite struggling physically throughout the run-in, he delivered five goals in his last four matches to ensure Santos remained in Brazil’s Serie A.
🙌 NEYMAR JR 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vdHoXcigz8
— Santos FC (@SantosFC) December 7, 2025
Speaking after the decisive win, Neymar admitted the past weeks had taken a toll.
“I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me,” he told reporters. “I thank those who were with me to lift me up. If it were not for them, I would not have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest, and then we will have this knee surgery.”
The forward did not reveal specific medical details or offer a recovery schedule, leaving major uncertainty over his availability for Brazil. Neymar has not featured for the national team in two years due to a series of long-term injuries, and this latest setback adds to a growing list of concerns.
In October, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made his position clear: Neymar would only be considered for the 2026 World Cup if he returned to full fitness and regular top-level form. The tournament, taking place from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico and the United States, now looks increasingly difficult for the veteran star to make.
For Santos, Neymar’s sacrifice delivered salvation. For Neymar himself, the price may be months on the sidelines and a race against time to reach the global stage once more.
