Brazilian superstar Neymar will be out for four to six weeks to recover from the latest injury he suffered while playing for Santos against Atletico Mineiro on Thursday, according to multiple reports.
The 33-year-old sustained a serious knee injury in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in October 2023 and has struggled to return to full fitness, though his recent form at Santos was rewarded with a call-up to the Brazil squad in March.
It was Neymar’s first start since a left thigh issue ruled him out of Brazil’s March fixtures and Santos’ Paulista semi-final defeat to Corinthians.
Neymar has 128 caps and a record 79 goals for his country, surpassing Pele's tally of 77.
Neymar admitted he was taken aback by the request from someone widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
After a gap of 502 days, Brazilian superstar Neymar finally found the back of the net when he converted from the spot for Santos in their 3-1 win over Agua Santa in the Sao Paulo State Championship today.
Brazilian superstar Neymar recently moved back to his boyhood club Santos after an underwhelming stint with Saudi Pro League Club Al Hilal.
The Urbano Caldeira stadium erupted in celebration as jubilant and tearful fans lit up their mobile phones to give the striker, who left the club 12 years ago, a hero's welcome before kick-off.
Neymar has been one of the finest players in the world when at the top of his game, a forward with dazzling skill who "understands football as art", as his former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique once said.
The evening ended on a sour note for Al-Hilal when Neymar, who returned two weeks ago from a year out due to a ruptured cruciate ligament, was replaced 29 minutes after his introduction from the bench due to injury.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker had not played since rupturing his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty in October last year.
"Happy to be back in the group," Neymar posted on Instagram, with pictures of him running and kicking the ball, watched by Al Hilal's Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus.
Brazil coach Dorival Junior called for Neymar to be given as much time as he needs to make a complete recovery from a knee injury that has sidelined him for almost a year.
Neymar is set to miss the start of the next Saudi Pro League season as he recovers from a serious knee injury, Al Hilal's coach said Tuesday.
The country of Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldinho, which once wowed the world with its 'samba' style, has not won the World Cup since 2002. Nor has it produced a Ballon d'Or winner since Kaka in 2007.
Jorge Jesus' side, top of the Saudi league and still alive in the King's Cup and Asian Champions league, are bidding for a quadruple of trophies this season.
A Brazilian court has suspended a $3 million fine imposed on soccer star Neymar last year for building a lake at his mansion on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro without an environmental license.
According to UOL, Neymar has informed those at Santos that he will be rejoining their ranks when his deal in the Middle East expires
Alves, 40, was jailed for four and a half years on Thursday after being found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
