Neymar to Undergo Knee Surgery, Casting Doubts on 2026 World Cup Participation
Neymar is scheduled to undergo knee surgery after playing through pain to help his boyhood club, Santos, avoid relegation from Brazil's Serie A, raising concerns about his availability for the 2026 World Cup.
The 33-year-old forward played the entire match as Santos secured a 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro on Sunday, ensuring they would not face an immediate drop back to the second tier following their promotion last season.
Neymar returned to Brazil's top-flight league in January after making only seven appearances over 18 months with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. He played a pivotal role in Santos' survival, scoring five goals in their last four matches of the season.
"I came for this, to try to help in the best way I can," Neymar told reporters after the match. "These have been tough weeks for me."
He expressed gratitude to those who supported him, saying, "If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have played these matches because of this knee problem."
Injuries have hindered Brazil's all-time leading scorer, who has netted 79 goals in 128 appearances for the national team, limiting his participation since a loss to Uruguay in October 2023.
Neymar did not provide specifics regarding the surgery or a timeline for his recovery, stating, "I need to rest and then I will have this knee surgery."
In October, Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that Neymar must regain full fitness and form to be considered for inclusion in the squad for next summer's World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.