Neymar faces a career crossroads right before the World Cup

The Brazilian star Neymar continues to confront an uncertain future as he confirms he will undergo knee surgery immediately after playing a key role in helping Santos secure their goal of avoiding relegation in the 2025 Brazilian Serie A season.

Returning to Santos in January after a stint in Saudi Arabia, Neymar was seen as both a mental and technical pillar during the most intense phase of the battle to avoid relegation. At 33 years old, the former PSG player still demonstrated significant influence by scoring 5 goals in the last 4 matches, directly pulling Santos out of the danger zone. The 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro last weekend was also a match Neymar had to endure pain to participate in, completing the final objective of the season.

After the game, Neymar admitted he had been battling persistent knee pain, which ultimately forced him to decide on surgery. Neymar said:

“I came back for this, to try to help the team in the best way possible. The past few weeks have been really tough for me. I’m grateful to those who stood by and supported me. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to play these recent matches due to injury, because of this knee issue. I need to rest and then undergo surgery.”

Currently, Neymar has not disclosed any details about the surgery procedure or the expected recovery time. However, medical experts in Brazil suggest that knee surgery at age 33 could significantly impact his performance and chances of returning to play next year.

This raises serious doubts about Neymar’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. It has been two years since he last wore the Brazil national team jersey, mostly hindered by recurring injuries. Last October, Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti clearly emphasized that Neymar can only return to the national team if he guarantees perfect physical condition. Coach Ancelotti stated: “Everything depends on how he recovers. To be called up, Neymar must be in top physical shape.”

The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This means Neymar has about half a year to recover, regain form, and convince Ancelotti to give him a chance.

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