Neymar took one of the biggest risks of his career, potentially jeopardising his chances of making Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, by choosing to help his struggling boyhood club, Santos FC.
His highly anticipated return to Brazil has been fraught with injury setbacks that have hindered his consistent participation. The latest setback — a meniscus injury in his left knee — was expected to rule him out for the rest of the year, with doctors recommending immediate arthroscopic surgery followed by rehabilitation.
But with Santos 17th in the league table and facing the threat of relegation in their final three matches, Neymar had a tough decision to make. Despite medical advice urging rest and treatment, the 33-year-old chose to continue training and make himself available for selection, risking his long-term fitness and World Cup hopes.
Reports in Brazil suggest that Neymar’s meniscus tear was severe enough to require surgery, which would have sidelined him for at least a month and ended his season.
Neymar, however, chose loyalty over self-preservation.
In a must-win match against Sport, his presence was transformative. He opened the scoring with a clinical finish and set up another goal, inspiring Santos to a crucial 3-0 victory. His performance not only lifted the team out of the relegation zone but also reignited hope among the squad and supporters. With those three valuable points, Santos climbed to 15th in the Brazilian Serie A standings, moving two points clear of Vitoria, who still have a game in hand.
Watch Neymar’s Goal:
ELE É SANTOS PRA KRL!!! pic.twitter.com/XtDpxKcboK
— neymar out of context (@njoutcontext) November 29, 2025
Watch Neymar’s Asisst
Escanteio do Neymar, e João Schmidt marca o terceiro na Vila Belmiro. Gol importante! Santos 3×0 Sport pic.twitter.com/sKW8KIsvPx
— Papo de Boleiros 🇧🇷 (@_papoboleiros) November 29, 2025
For Neymar, delaying surgery undeniably increases the strain on his already fragile knee, but for now, the reward has outweighed the risk. His intervention gave Santos renewed hope in their fight for survival — even if it means putting his own World Cup dreams at risk.
