Neymar finally stopped playing the hero — and went under the knife.
The Brazilian superstar has successfully undergone surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus, Santos confirmed on Monday, bringing
an end to a bruising, pain-soaked season that nearly broke him — and almost sank his boyhood club.
🚨Neymar has undergone successful surgery for his knee injury.
Recovery is already underway, with the Brazilian starting his rehab phase.
All going well, he’s expected to be back on the pitch early next year⚡️#neymarjr pic.twitter.com/NDAM1ZK9I3
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) December 22, 2025
At 33, Neymar played through agony as Santos flirted with relegation from Brazil’s top flight for the second time in their 112-year history. Only after survival was secured did the truth spill out: he’d been battling the injury every single match.
And still, he carried them.
Five goals and an assist in his final four games. Eight goals in just 19 league appearances. One last surge that dragged Santos to safety with a 3–0 win over Cruzeiro on the final day and a 13th-place finish.
“For weeks I could barely play,” Neymar admitted. “But I did it for Santos.”
The arthroscopic procedure was performed by Brazil’s national team doctor — the same surgeon who previously operated on Neymar’s foot fracture and his devastating ACL injury suffered against Uruguay in October 2023.
Recovery is expected to take around a month. Neymar’s contract expires at the end of the year, though talks over an extension are ongoing.
He hasn’t worn the Brazil shirt in more than two years, but with Carlo Ancelotti now in charge, Neymar is determined that this chapter isn’t the last. The 2026 World Cup remains the target.
(with agency inputs)
