Neymar suffers a thigh injury and will miss upcoming matches for Santos. With the club sitting just above the relegation zone in the Brasileirão, his absence could be decisive. The 33-year-old star has six goals and three assists this season but remains under scrutiny, having already been left out of Brazil’s most recent squad by Carlo Ancelotti.
Santos announced on Friday night that Neymar has suffered an injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh, an issue detected after the Brazilian star was forced to leave Thursday’s training session in visible discomfort.
The news immediately cast a shadow over the club’s preparations for the coming weeks, as the 33-year-old winger was expected to play a decisive role in Santos’ fight to avoid slipping into the relegation zone of the Brasileirão.
According to the club’s statement, Neymar has already begun treatment with the medical department. However, no official timeline has been given for his recovery. Thigh muscle injuries can vary greatly in severity, sometimes sidelining players for just a few weeks but, in more serious cases, ruling them out for months. Considering Neymar’s well-documented history of injuries over the last decade, there is growing concern among both fans and analysts that his absence could stretch longer than expected.
For Santos, the timing could hardly be worse. The club currently sits in 16th place in the Brasileirão table, with 23 points from 22 matches a position just above the relegation zone. With only a narrow cushion separating them from danger, the next stretch of fixtures will be crucial in determining whether they remain in Brazil’s top flight. Losing their most high-profile and technically gifted player at such a critical stage is a significant blow, not only tactically but also psychologically for the squad.
Neymar’s return to Santos earlier in 2025 was greeted with immense excitement and optimism across Brazil. The forward, who began his career at the club before becoming a global icon with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, made a highly publicized comeback after a brief stint in Saudi Arabia. His arrival was seen as a homecoming, a chance to reignite the magic of his early years, and to bring leadership and star quality back to Vila Belmiro. Crowds returned in large numbers, TV audiences grew, and commercial interest around the club soared. But while the fairytale narrative remains appealing, the harsh reality of Neymar’s physical struggles continues to be an obstacle.
So far this season, Neymar has played 21 matches for Santos, scoring six goals and providing three assists. While these numbers demonstrate his ongoing ability to make a difference in the final third, they also reflect a player still searching for rhythm after years of stop-start campaigns interrupted by injuries. Each time Neymar appears to be building momentum, a setback arrives – a storyline that has followed him since his later Barcelona days and throughout his PSG career.
On the international stage, the situation has become even more complicated. Neymar was left out of Brazil’s most recent squad by head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who appears focused on rejuvenating the national team with younger talents such as Rodrygo, Vinícius Júnior, and Endrick. Neymar’s exclusion was already seen as a turning point in his career, and this latest injury only reinforces the doubts surrounding his role in the Seleção’s future plans. If he cannot recover quickly and prove his fitness, the chances of him featuring prominently in Brazil’s campaigns could diminish even further.
For Santos, manager Fábio Carille now faces the challenge of reshaping his side without their talisman. The team has often relied on Neymar’s creativity and ability to draw defenders, opening space for others to exploit. Without him, Santos will need to rely more heavily on collective organization and contributions from younger players. Figures such as Marcos Leonardo and Ângelo are expected to shoulder more responsibility in attack, but the pressure on them will be immense as the club battles for survival.
The absence of Neymar also carries wider implications beyond the pitch. His return had brought unprecedented media coverage and commercial revenue, with sponsors and broadcasters banking on his presence to boost the visibility of Santos and the Brasileirão as a whole. Each injury setback threatens that momentum, reminding everyone of the risks associated with relying so heavily on a superstar whose career has been defined as much by absences as by brilliance.
Neymar’s journey has always been one of contrasts. On the one hand, he remains one of the most naturally gifted footballers of his generation, capable of moments of genius that few players can replicate. On the other, he has been plagued by injuries at decisive moments: missing crucial Champions League knockout ties, World Cup matches, and now key games in Santos’ battle for survival. This duality has shaped the public’s perception of him admired for his talent, but often questioned for his durability.
As Santos brace for the weeks ahead, supporters will anxiously follow every medical update. The dream scenario is that Neymar returns before the final rounds of the Brasileirão, when the fight to avoid relegation will reach its peak. His presence, even if not fully fit, could inspire the team and provide the spark needed to collect vital points. Conversely, a prolonged absence could leave Santos dangerously exposed, forcing them into a relegation scrap that would have seemed unthinkable at the start of the season.
Regardless of the outcome, Neymar’s situation is once again a reminder of how fragile even the brightest careers can be. From the boy who dazzled at Vila Belmiro over a decade ago to the global superstar who carried the weight of Brazilian football’s expectations, Neymar’s story continues to fascinate. Now, back where it all began, the hope is that his latest setback is only a temporary pause, rather than another chapter in a recurring cycle.
