Neymar just cannot catch a break. And now, the World Cup dream he fought so desperately to keep alive is slipping right through his fingers.
Chaos has once again erupted at Santos, where the Brazilian icon
has been ruled out for the rest of the 2025 season with… you guessed it right, another injury.
According to Globo Esporte, Neymar has suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee, the same leg that has tormented him for years. After feeling discomfort during the match against Mirassol, he missed the clash with Internacional, and further tests confirmed the worst: another long-term setback.
And with that, the clock toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup has all but run out.
Ancelotti’s open door slowly closing
Just weeks ago, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti had left the door ever so slightly open for Neymar, insisting the forward still had a chance — if he could regain consistency, fitness and minutes.
But this latest injury forces him to miss Santos’ final league fixtures, a period in which the club is desperately trying to avoid relegation. Neymar is now expected to return only in 2026, effectively ending any realistic hope of proving himself before Ancelotti’s deadline.
Neymar’s treacherous injury history
This is just the latest chapter in a brutal two-year stretch for the former Barcelona and PSG star. Since his ACL tear, Neymar has been unable to string together any form of continuity.
Multiple muscular issues have limited him to just 25 appearances and 7 goals since his emotional return to Santos — a comeback originally designed to showcase his readiness for one final World Cup run.
Instead, the injuries have kept coming. The doubts have grown louder. And even his future at Santos now hangs by a thread, with his performances unable to justify his hefty wage. If the club goes down, a renewal becomes almost unthinkable.
Ancelotti had been clear: Neymar had six months to get fit, stay fit, and prove he could handle modern football’s demands. But with Brazil’s preparations kicking off in March, the timeline has become nearly impossible.
The World Cup farewell he longed for is fading — and it’s fading fast.
