Brazilian forward Neymar has responded to ongoing criticisms regarding his fitness as the World Cup approaches.
Neymar was omitted from Santos‘ lineup during Tuesday’s 2-2 league match against Mirassol, a game that Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti attended.
In response to the speculation about Neymar’s health, Santos coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda clarified that the decision to rest him was intentional to manage his workload, dismissing any rumors of injury.
“He has no injuries or any such issues,” Vojvoda stated. “He feels no pain. It’s important to manage the workload for a player who’s had inactivity in recent years.”
“He’ll be ready for the match against Corinthians [on Sunday].”
Neymar, aged 34, took to social media to address the rumors directly.
He posted: “Many people are coming up with theories about my situation: nothing is wrong. If I play while injured, as the rumors suggested last year, that’s a mistake on my part. If I think only of myself, I’m criticized. If I take it easy, I’m still wrong. If I play through pain or risk aggravating an issue, I’m wrong again. It’s quite complicated, honestly. It’s challenging to satisfy everyone.”
“What surprises me is that there are people who seem like they are close to me every day and create stories as if they know the truth. It’s tough to be in my position, and I have to find patience to deal with these comments.”
Neymar has recently returned to action with Santos following minor left knee surgery on December 22.
He is focusing on securing a spot in Brazil’s World Cup roster.
Injuries have sidelined Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, from representing his national team since October 2023.
“He’s an incredibly important player for all of Brazil,” Vojvoda added. “He’s getting himself ready and will make a significant impact for Santos. Watching him train gives me a special feeling; there aren’t many players like him, and we need to take care of a talent like this.”
On Monday, Ancelotti will announce the Brazilian squad for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia.
Brazil will face France on March 26 at Gillette Stadium in Boston before taking on Croatia on March 31 in Orlando.