Neymar Jr is scheduled to undergo knee surgery after playing through pain to help his boyhood club Santos secure their place in Brazil’s Serie A.
The 33-year-old featured for the full 90 minutes as Santos defeated Cruzeiro 3-0 on Sunday, ensuring they avoided an immediate drop back to the second division following last season’s promotion.
Speaking after the match, Neymar did not provide a timeline for his recovery, saying, “I need to rest and then I will have this knee surgery.”
Neymar returned to Brazil in January after a limited spell at Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, where he made just seven appearances over 18 months. Since his return, he has been instrumental in Santos’ survival, scoring five goals in their last four matches of the season.
“I came for this, to try to help in the best way I can,” Neymar said. “These have been tough weeks for me. I thank those who were with me to lift me up. Without them, I wouldn’t have played these matches because of this knee problem.”
Injuries have also curtailed Neymar’s international career; Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, with 79 goals in 128 appearances, has not featured for the national team since a defeat to Uruguay in October 2023.
Earlier this year, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti stated that Neymar would need to regain full fitness and form to be considered for the squad for next summer’s World Cup, scheduled in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
