Neymar says he will need knee surgery after pushing through pain to help his childhood club Santos avoid being relegated from Brazil’s Serie A.
The 33-year-old played the entire match in Santos’ 3-0 win over Cruzeiro on Sunday, a result that kept the club safe just one season after returning to the top division. He didn’t reveal how long he’ll be out, only saying he needs to rest before going ahead with the surgery.
Neymar moved back to Brazil in January after barely playing for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, making only seven appearances in 18 months. For Santos, though, he was vital — scoring five goals in their last four games to help them survive.
He explained that the past few weeks have been difficult because of his knee injury and thanked those who supported him, saying he wouldn’t have been able to play without their help.
Injuries have also stopped Brazil’s all-time top scorer — with 79 goals in 128 games — from playing for the national team since October 2023.
Earlier this year, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti said Neymar must get fully fit and return to top form if he wants to be selected for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
