Brazil forward Neymar Jr. is set to undergo knee surgery, raising serious doubts over his availability for the FIFA World Cup 2026, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday.
The 33-year-old battled through a full 90 minutes on Sunday despite significant discomfort, helping Santos secure a crucial 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium. This result ensured the club avoided an immediate relegation back to Brazil’s second division.
Since his return to his boyhood club in January following a stint in Saudi Arabia, Neymar has rediscovered form, scoring five goals in his last four league matches.
“These have been tough weeks for me,” Neymar said after the match. “I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. I thank those who were with me to lift me up.
If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest, and then we will have this knee surgery.”
The forward did not disclose the nature of the injury or an expected recovery timeline, leaving uncertainty surrounding his comeback.
Neymar has not featured for Brazil’s national team for more than two years, with his last appearance coming in a 2023 defeat to Uruguay, as a series of injuries has kept him sidelined.
With the World Cup set for June 11 to July 19, 2026, across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, concerns are mounting about whether Neymar will regain fitness in time.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti recently stressed that the star must return to full fitness before being considered for selection for football’s biggest stage.