Neymar (33) continues to be plagued by injuries. The attacking player is out again for an extended period—another bitter setback in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.
He is also struggling to get going at his home club FC Santos: Neymar has injured his thigh again and will now be out of action for even longer. The former FC Barcelona and Paris St. Germain player sustained the injury on September 18 during FC Santos training, but until now it was unclear how long the renewed injury would keep Neymar out of action.
On Sunday, Santos president Marcelo Teixeira announced that Neymar had suffered a thigh muscle injury and would not be fit to play again until November at the earliest. His total time out is estimated at around six weeks. The thigh remains Neymar’s big problem area. In the spring, he missed seven of Santos’ first nine possible league games after returning to his home club from Al-Hilal at the beginning of the year.
With Santos, Neymar is currently fighting against relegation. The club is just above the relegation zone in the Brazilian league, but at least has a five-point lead over the first relegation spot.
In the crucial phase of the season, which ends in early December, Santos will now have to do without its top star for the time being.
The World Cup is just around the corner.
“Everyone wants to see Neymar in good physical condition in the national team,” Ancelotti told ESPN Brasil in mid-September, adding with regard to the exceptional player’s injury-plagued recent years: “He has been through a lot.
“Everyone wants to see Neymar in good physical condition in the national team,” Ancelotti told ESPN Brasil in mid-September, adding with regard to the exceptional player’s injury-plagued recent years: “In order to fully exploit his talent in modern soccer, a player must be in good physical condition.”
It is now certain that Neymar will not be available for the upcoming international matches against South Korea on October 10 and Japan on October 14. His last game for Brazil was almost two years ago. There are not many games left after his return to recommend himself for a place in Ancelotti’s World Cup squad for the tournament in the summer of 2026: the Brazilian league takes a winter break from December to March.
