Neymar comes close to walking away from football after a fresh knee setback, according to Neymar da Silva Santos Sr. The 33-year-old forward plays on through
a meniscus injury, helps Santos avoid relegation in Brazil’s Serie A, then chooses surgery while targeting Carlo Ancelotti's 2026 World Cup squad.
Neymar's father and agent reveals how the first reaction to the injury is bleak during a YouTube interview with Rafa Tecla T - Experiencias reais. He said: He got a meniscus injury, the press leaks it before we talk to him, and his head goes blank. It's so much to take in. I go to my son's house. 'So, how are you?'
The injury strikes as Santos enter the closing weeks of a tense season in the Brazilian top-flight. The club sit in a relegation battle and need results. Neymar continues to play despite pain in the meniscus and features in the final three league games, which all end in victories.
Across that decisive spell, Neymar scores a hat-trick against Juventude and adds a goal plus an assist against Sport Recife. Those contributions prove vital as Santos retain their Serie A status. The forward, who previously represents Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, chooses to delay surgery until survival is secure.
After Santos are safe, Neymar undergoes an operation on the meniscus and starts a new recovery plan. The aim is to maintain form and fitness before the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Carlo Ancelotti is expected to coach Brazil, and Neymar wants a place in that squad.
Neymar already holds Brazil's all-time scoring record, with 79 goals from 128 international appearances. The forward has played at three World Cups and remains a key figure for the national team. That background helps explain the emotional impact of another serious knee issue during the Santos campaign.
During the first discussions at home, the mood is heavy, and Neymar speaks about stepping away. He turns to me and says, 'I can't take it anymore. Let's operate, Dad. I don't even know if it's worth operating. As for me, I've had enough'. I said, 'Son, if you want to have surgery so we can focus on your recovery, and you get well, I'm with you'.
The next phase brings a sudden change, described by Neymar da Silva Santos Sr as a key moment. The next morning, he started training, kicking left, right. Then he looked, shook his head, 'I think I can do it'. He went to the game and scored the goal. When he scored, he looked at me and said that he was going to the end.
This shift in mindset plays out on the pitch, with Neymar leading Santos' survival charge despite the meniscus problem. The episode, captured in the Rafa Tecla T - Experiencias reais interview and highlighted by the club’s social media posts, underlines the pressure around Neymar injury decisions at this stage of a long career.𝙉𝙚𝙮𝙢𝙖𝙧 𝙅𝙧.pic.twitter.com/LYXkamEAnXSantos FC (@SantosFC) February 16, 2025
