Brazilian football icon Neymar Jr. suffered yet another crushing injury setback—just 34 minutes into his emotional return to Santos FC, the club where it all began.
The 33-year-old, who was starting his first Brasileirão match for Santos since rejoining after his exit from Al-Hilal, limped off the pitch early, reigniting deep concerns about his long-term fitness.
The devastating twist was confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who posted:
“Neymar Jr leaves the pitch with a new injury as Santos started him tonight in the Brasileirão. After 34 minutes, Neymar has been subbed off.”
Once hailed as Brazil’s golden boy, Neymar has endured a string of serious injuries in recent years—each one threatening to dim the bright spark of a generational talent.
He had only terminated his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in January 2025 after a turbulent, injury-ridden stint. The club signed him in August 2023 on a massive $104 million-per-year deal, but Neymar managed just seven appearances before a ruptured cruciate ligament during a Brazil World Cup qualifier ended his season prematurely.
Later, a hamstring injury further delayed his return, prompting Al-Hilal’s coach Jorge Jesus to admit:
“He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”
Despite the setbacks, Neymar remains determined to feature for Brazil one last time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance—and I will do everything I can to play in it,” he told CNN earlier this year.
His return to Santos was meant to be a storybook chapter—back where it all started. Instead, fans were left heartbroken and uncertain. The moment that was supposed to be triumphant turned into a painful reminder of a once-unstoppable player now fighting time and his own body.
With 79 goals in 127 appearances, Neymar remains Brazil’s all-time top scorer, a legend whose flair lit up Barcelona, Paris, and beyond. But whether he can write one final glorious chapter in the Selecão’s colors is the question that now hangs heavy over his career.
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