Neymar Faces Potential Absence Due to Knee Injury Ahead of World Cup

World Cup hopeful Neymar is in jeopardy of missing Santos’ last three league matches of the season due to a knee injury that is likely to necessitate arthroscopic surgery at the end of the season, as reported by ESPN.

The Brazilian forward was sidelined during Monday’s 1-1 league draw against Internacional as a precautionary measure after experiencing discomfort in his left knee during the match against Mirassol on November 19.

Medical examinations have revealed that Neymar, 33, has sustained a left meniscus injury. While the injury is not considered serious, it will still require arthroscopic surgery, with an estimated recovery time of three weeks. This timeline would mean the former Barcelona star would miss the season’s final three fixtures against Sport (home), Juventude (away), and Cruzeiro (home).

Currently, sources indicate that the club intends to postpone the surgery until the end of the season and is exploring alternative treatment options to enable Neymar to return to play temporarily.

Neymar underwent surgery on his left knee two years ago to repair an ACL tear and a torn meniscus.

Although Santos has yet to confirm Neymar’s latest injury—his fourth since returning to his boyhood club in January—club president Marcelo Teixeira mentioned that the player underwent tests on Tuesday. He stated that the medical team is working diligently to assess Neymar’s availability for the upcoming league match against Sport. No formal announcement regarding Neymar’s status has been made yet.

“He had an exam today in São Paulo,” Teixeira said. “I consulted with the medical department, and they are exploring every possibility to have him available for this match [against Sport]. The doctor has not yet spoken with Neymar but is scheduled to do so tomorrow.

“There will be a meeting tomorrow morning to evaluate the situation. We will investigate how we can defer any necessary procedures, if applicable, to utilize Neymar in the Brazilian Championship.”

Santos currently finds itself in the relegation zone, one position and one point away from safety with three matches remaining.

Neymar has faced significant fitness challenges that have limited his playtime at Santos, and he has not represented Brazil since October 2023, when he suffered an ACL injury.

As Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, Neymar is hopeful of competing in his fourth World Cup in 2026. Brazilian coach Carlo Ancelotti recently emphasized the importance of maintaining good physical condition for Neymar to be considered for selection.

This report includes contributions from Felipe Silva and Adriana Garcia.