In the quiet corners of Vila Belmiro, long before kick-off, there was a feeling that Neymar Jr. is about to do something unwise. Not reckless – but unmistakably Neymar. Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, twice broken by injuries, repeatedly written off, entered the pitch for Santos knowing full well that the medical charts insisted he shouldn’t be there at all.
Yet when Santos needed saving, the boy who once ruled the country’s imagination returned not as a superstar, but as a lifeline.
Against Sport, Neymar lost a meniscus problem that reportedly ruled him out for the rest of 2025. Ninety minutes later, he had a goal, an assist and the stadium on his feet. More importantly, he lifted Santos out of the relegation zone and reopened a conversation that many believed was fast closing – Neymar’s last attempt at a final World Cup.
“This injury won’t stop me”
After the match, Neymar insisted that the decision to play was collective, not rebellious.
“Physically I’m fine, I feel like I’m getting better day by day. This injury is sad and uncomfortable, but it’s nothing that’s going to stop me. I’ll definitely be in the next game.”
He then took aim at speculation that he had ignored medical advice.
“To be honest, it’s not okay! People need to know that the doctors and I know that we will never hurt my career. People are making up a lot of things. I’m sad! Very angry.”
Behind the frustration was a clear reality: Neymar’s time is running out. Since leaving PSG, injuries have consumed entire seasons. He missed 18 games in 2025 alone and may require surgery before the end of the year.
Ancelotti’s hard line: “He has to be 100%”
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti it offers little room for sentiment.
“Neymar has to be at 100%. There are many very good players, I need to select players who are at 100%. If Vinicius is at 90%, I will call another player who is at 100%.”
His Brazil is younger and faster, with breakthrough talents like Estevo receiving stronger support for 2026 than Neymar himself.
“I think he’s a great talent. He’s been unlucky with injuries. Because of the injuries he’s had, he couldn’t be in good physical condition.”
For the first time since 2010, Neymar’s place in Seleo is no longer certain.
A legacy in the balance
At 33, Neymar knows this World Cup could define his legacy. He has become Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, but the trophy he most covets still eludes him. The scars of 2014, 2018 and 2022 still linger – and Qatar may have been his last real shot.
Now the story is different: he has to fight to be chosen.
Fighting time, but still fighting
With Santos still flirting with relegation and two crucial games remaining, Neymar has vowed to play through the discomfort again. Since his return, he has scored five vital goals, each reminiscent of the talent that once made him the future of Brazilian football.
But the question is no longer whether Neymar can create moments of brilliance. It’s about whether he can stay fit long enough to do it consistently.
Neymar’s road to the 2026 World Cup is no longer paved with hype and anticipation. It’s paved with pain, recovery, sacrifice and urgency—the final sprint of a football player who runs out of the way but refuses to stop.
– The end
Published on:
December 2, 2025
