The great Brazilian star is going under the knife again. Neymar has undergone surgery on his left knee in the midst of the countdown to the next World Cup, in a move that the player himself had been postponing for weeks to help Santos secure their place in the Brasileirao.
The striker, who at 33 years old is still one of the most recognizable names in world football After his time at Barcelona and PSG, he now faces a new period of rehabilitation with a very clear objective in mind: to arrive in the best possible condition to try to earn a place in Carlo Ancelotti's Brazilian national team.
Details of the knee surgery
According to a statement released by Santos, Neymar underwent arthroscopic surgery on the medial meniscus of his left knee at the private Mater Dei Nova Lima hospital in Belo Horizonte. The surgery was performed by Dr. Rodrigo Lasmar, the Brazilian national team doctor and a longtime acquaintance of the striker, whom he had previously treated for serious injuries.
The São Paulo club was brief but forceful in its statement: “The The surgery was a success "And the player is doing well," without providing further clinical details. Brazilian media outlets indicate that it was a minimally invasive procedure intended to clean and repair the damaged meniscus and joint, after several months of persistent discomfort.
The move comes after a season in which Neymar played while hampered by the pain. in that knee, especially in the final stretch of the Brasileirão. Even so, the striker decided to grit his teeth and postpone surgery so he could participate in the crucial matches for Santos' survival.
On his social media, number 10 shared an image lying in a hospital bed in Belo HorizonteThe image, accompanied by a message of reassurance to the fans, has been widely discussed in Brazil and Europe, confirming that the footballer is fully aware that he is playing his last major cards at the national team level.
Recovery periods and sports calendar
The various parties agree that The estimated time off work will be approximately one monthThis period coincides with Santos' preseason dates, so the club is confident that they can count on Neymar for the start of the official matches next season, if he ultimately remains on the roster.
The expectation is that the striker could return to the field between the end of January and the beginning of February. if the knee's recovery is as expectedThis margin opens the door for him to be ready in time for key matches of the Campeonato Paulista, including the derby against Corinthians, provided there are no setbacks in his rehabilitation.
The medical roadmap anticipates that Neymar will be discharged from the hospital within hours. to begin an intensive physiotherapy plan as soon as possible. The goal is not only for the joint to heal properly, but also to prevent relapses in an area that has been particularly stressed throughout his career.
The arthroscopy comes after the striker suffered an injury in 2023. a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus from the same knee during a World Cup qualifying match. Since then, his return to the pitch has been inconsistent, with frequent interruptions due to physical discomfort.
Recent performance with Santos
Since his return to his childhood club at the beginning of the year, Neymar has played a decisive but intermittent role with Santos. The figures vary slightly depending on the competition considered, but in the Brasileirao his performance has been key to avoiding the disaster of relegation.
In the league championship, the Brazilian international played around 20 matches, in which he scored 8 goalsThese figures are further enhanced by their influence on the attack and in moments of high pressure. The team finished in twelfth place and secured a spot in the next Copa Sudamericana, an objective that seemed very distant just a few months ago.
Taking into account all competitions since its return, the statistics extend to nearly 28 official matches, with 11 points and 4 assistsBeyond the numbers, in the final stretch of the season Neymar was singled out by the local press as one of the main reasons why "Peixe" stayed in the league.
That competitive effort, despite the knee problems, partly explains why The player opted to postpone the surgery until securing their place in the league. Once the Brasileirão season was over and they had secured a spot in the Copa Sudamericana, the striker gave the green light to the surgery so he could plan for next season and his potential participation in the World Cup.
Contract up in the air and possible renewal
As the recovery progresses, Neymar's contractual future remains unresolvedHis contract with Santos expires on December 31st and, to date, no extension has been officially announced. However, both the club and the player's representatives are working towards extending the relationship.
Various reports in the Brazilian press indicate that Negotiations for a short-term renewal are well on track.On the table would be an agreement of at least six additional months that could be extended to cover the entire cycle prior to the World Cup, adjusting figures and conditions according to the player's physical condition.
Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has stated in several interviews his optimism regarding the striker's continuityThe manager emphasizes that the project presented to Neymar since his return is clearly aimed at supporting him until the next World Cup, combining sporting impact with commercial and media impact.
The footballer's entourage, led by his father, Neymar Sr. is leading the talks with the board. The plan involves finding an economic formula that fits the club's financial reality without giving up the presence of its franchise player, both on the field and in terms of image.
In his latest statements after Santos' victory against Cruzeiro, which secured their place in the league, Neymar admitted that he hasn't yet decided what his 2026 will be like.He explained that he wanted to take a few days off, disconnect from football, and then sit down calmly to assess his immediate future.
The World Cup as a great personal motivation
Beyond the day-to-day with Santos, Neymar's big goal remains the 2026 World CupThe tournament will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The striker makes no secret of the fact that his main motivation is to arrive at the event in a form that will convince coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Since the Italian coach took charge of the "Canarinha" in May, Neymar has not been called up in any squadThe last time he wore the green and yellow jersey was in October 2023, in a qualifying match in which he suffered the serious ligament and meniscus injury that abruptly halted his career with the national team.
Despite that break and the subsequent physical problems, The striker remains Brazil's all-time top scorerwith 79 points. That status keeps him very much present in the public debate about the final list that Ancelotti will announce in the months leading up to the tournament.
The coach himself has left the door open on several occasions. In recent statements, he indicated that if Neymar proves he is in better shape than other candidates If his performance justifies the call-up, he will have a real chance of making the World Cup squad.
Confidence is being conveyed by those close to the player. They believe that, with a successful knee recovery and a strong first half of the season with Santos, There's still time for Neymar to arrive in time to the World Cup and be able to fight for that title that has always eluded him.
Messages to the fans and nods to Ancelotti
Alongside the medical news, Neymar has used his latest public appearances to send messages of commitment with the national team and with Santos. During a well-known music festival in São Paulo, the striker took to the stage and made his intentions clear regarding the World Cup.
In front of thousands of fans, the striker assured that he and the Brazilian national team “They will do their best and the impossible so that the World Cup comes to Brazil.” He added that, if the team reaches the final, he promises to score a goal and asked those present to remind him of those words in July, when the moment of truth arrives.
At that same event, Neymar gave a direct nod to the coach: “Hello, Ancelotti“Help us,” a phrase that quickly went viral on social media. The comment reflects both her desire to be on the list and her intention to maintain a relatable and ambitious image in the public eye.
On its social media, Santos has also disseminated messages that reinforce the idea of continuity, with slogans such as #EuVouEuVoltoEuFico, interpreted by many fans as a sign that the club is confident of retaining its star player at least until the World Cup.
Although the player's tone remains relaxed, there is an underlying tension the sporting urgency to string together months of consistencySomething he hasn't been able to achieve for some time due to injuries. His time at Al-Hilal and his final spell in Europe were already marked by recurring physical problems.
Meanwhile, the knee surgery and the recovery period that now begins will be closely watched not only in Brazil, but also in Europe, where every step of his career is closely followed because of its media impact and what it represents in the recent history of football.
With the surgery now complete, the coming weeks will be crucial to see how the knee responds and whether Neymar is finally able to string together a long stretch of competition without setbacks, an essential condition for to aspire to be in the biggest showcase of international football.