Neymar hobbled off the pitch after a dramatic 3-0 win over Cruzeiro on Sunday, placing his 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes on the line.
The 33-year-old confirmed afterward that he will undergo surgery on his left knee, casting serious doubt over his availability for next year’s global tournament.
Neymar, who returned to Santos in January after his stint at Saudi side Al-Hilal, played a decisive role in the club’s lateseason escape from relegation.
Over the final four league games, he delivered five goals, including a stunning hattrick against Juventude just days before the Cruzeiro match, that lifted Santos out of danger.
Neymar has not featured for Brazil since the 2023 World Cup qualifiers, missing every squad selection under Carlo Ancelotti‘s new tenure as coach. So to boost his World Cup prospects, Neymar is reportedly turning to Brazilian physiotherapist Eduardo Santos, nicknamed ‘Dr Miracle‘.
Known for his unorthodox methods, Santos has helped players like Philippe Coutinho and Matheus Cunha accelerate recovery from serious injuries and according to ESPN, Neymar will undergo a partial arthroscopic meniscectomy on his left knee.
After, Santos will personally supervise his rehabilitation. The plan is for Neymar to receive treatment before Christmas, giving him roughly six months to prepare for potential World Cup selection and to restore his fitness to top level.
Neymar is Brazil‘s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Pele in September 2023 and has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances but has not yet been incorporated into Ancelotti‘s strategic plans.
His free-agent status this summer adds further urgency to his rehabilitation, and Ancelotti addressed Neymar‘s absence from the squad last week, emphasizing that selections are based on merit rather than reputation.
“We talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players,” Ancelotti, who left Real Madrid this year, said.
“We have to think about Brazil, which can be with Neymar or without Neymar, with other players or without other players. The definitive list we will make after the FIFA date in March. I understand very well that they are very interested in Neymar, I want to clarify that we are in December, the World Cup is in June.”
Ancelotti added, “I will choose the team that will go to the World Cup in May. If Neymar deserves to be, if he is well, better than someone else, he will play in the World Cup. I don’t owe anyone a debt.”
Brazil draw Scotland in exciting World Cup Group Stage clash
Scotland will face Brazil in their first World Cup appearance since 1998 after being drawn into Group C alongside Morocco and Haiti, and the game against the five-time champions is set for June 24 in either Miami or Atlanta.
It will evoke memories of the 1998 meeting at Stade de France, where Scotland narrowly lost 2-1 due to an unfortunate own goal by Tommy Boyd, and the nations last met in 2011 in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium in London, England.
Brazil open their campaign against Morocco on June 13, the North African side that made it to the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022 before losing to France. Whilst they take on debutants Haiti, the minnows of the group, on June 20.
Meanwhile, the United States‘ Group D contains Paraguay, Australia, and the final team from Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia, or Turkey. The FIFA World Cup finals will be held from June 11-July 19, 2026.
