World Cup aspirant Neymar risks missing the final three league matches of the season for Santos due to a knee injury that may necessitate arthroscopic surgery after the season ends, sources informed ESPN.
The Brazilian attacker did not participate in Monday’s 1-1 league draw against Internacional as a precautionary measure after feeling pain in his left knee during the match against Mirassol on November 19.
Tests have revealed that Neymar, 33, is dealing with a left meniscus injury.
While the injury is not deemed severe, it is expected to require arthroscopic surgery with a recovery time of approximately three weeks. If that timeline holds, Neymar will miss Santos’ last three league fixtures against Sport (home), Juventude (away), and Cruzeiro (home).
Currently, the club intends to delay the surgery until the end of the season and will explore other treatment options in hopes of getting him back on the pitch temporarily.
Neymar previously underwent knee surgery two years ago to repair an ACL tear and a meniscus injury.
While Santos has not publicly confirmed Neymar’s new injury, it marks his fourth health issue since rejoining his childhood club in January.
However, club president Marcelo Teixeira stated that Neymar had tests on Tuesday and that the medical team is in a race against time to see if he can participate in Friday’s match against Sport. No official update on Neymar’s condition has been released by the club.
“He underwent an exam today in São Paulo,” Teixeira mentioned. “I’ve spoken with the medical team, and they are looking into how he might play in this match [against Sport]. The doctor hasn’t yet talked with Neymar, but he will do so tomorrow.”
“A meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning to evaluate the situation. We will explore options to delay any necessary procedures, if any, to allow Neymar to continue contributing in the Brazilian Championship.”
Santos currently finds itself in the relegation zone, just one spot and one point away from safety with three games left to play.
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Fitness concerns have hindered Neymar’s ability to play regularly at Santos, and he has not been on the field for Brazil since October 2023 due to an ACL injury.
The all-time leading scorer for Brazil is eager to participate in his fourth World Cup in 2026. Brazil’s coach Carlo Ancelotti recently emphasized that Neymar must be in optimal physical condition to be considered for selection.
Contributions from Adriana Garcia were included in this report.