Brazilian superstar Neymar may miss the rest of 2025’s competitions. The forward has sustained a left knee meniscus injury and will most likely sit out the remainder of the season to undergo treatment. Santos still have three matches left in this year’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Brazilian top flight).
Since the match against Mirassol at Vila Belmiro Stadium on November 19th, the No. 10 has been experiencing discomfort in his left knee and thus did not feature in Monday’s game. Prior to this, he had played three consecutive matches: a win over Palmeiras, a loss to Flamengo, and a draw with Mirassol.
Currently fighting for relegation, Santos will play three more Série A games. They host Sport Recife on November 28th, travel to face Juventude on December 3rd, and conclude the season against Cruzeiro at Vila Belmiro Stadium on December 7th.
The new physical setback further hinders Neymar’s ambition to participate in the 2026 World Cup. Brazil’s national team only has two matches left in March before the World Cup squad is announced, and it remains unclear how long the player will be sidelined.
In an interview on November 17th, head coach Carlo Ancelotti spoke about the possibility of calling up Neymar for the World Cup: “Neymar is on the list of potential World Cup players. Now, there are still six months until the final squad is announced.
We have to observe his performance and that of other players to avoid mistakes in the final selection.”
Neymar has made 25 appearances and scored 7 goals this season. It is unclear whether he will stay at Santos beyond 2026. His contract expires in December, and the two parties have not yet decided on a renewal—largely dependent on the team’s relegation battle.
According to the Financial Committee, Neymar’s costs have “significantly” impacted Santos’ financial balance. As understood by Globo Esporte, internal club assessments indicate that his on-field returns have not met expectations, and these figures need to be re-evaluated.
In terms of salary alone, the superstar’s cost is equivalent to that of five “regular” players. According to the second-quarter balance sheet, the club’s salary expenditure was 11.3 million Brazilian reals.
