Neymar's World Cup Dreams Crushed as Career-Threatening Injury Strikes Again
Just seven months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Neymar has sustained a meniscus tear in his left knee and is anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign with Santos.
The Brazilian star had only just recovered from a hamstring problem and featured in four straight matches for the São Paulo-based team before experiencing knee pain after Santos' 1–1 stalemate against Mirassol on Wednesday, November 19.
Neymar was then rested for Monday's 1-1 tie at Internacional as a preventive measure, but what both he and Santos anticipated would be a minor knock has developed into a more significant problem affecting the same knee that required surgical intervention to fix an ACL rupture and meniscus damage in 2023.
This recent setback marks the attacker's fourth injury since rejoining Santos in January. Neymar featured in 25 matches and netted seven times during his second spell with his childhood club, but he won't be available to assist Juan Pablo Vojvoda's squad in their remaining three fixtures of the campaign, according to ESPN.
Santos are currently positioned 17th in Brazil's Serie A with 38 points from 35 fixtures. Sitting at the top of the relegation zone, the team is merely one point from safety, which makes their remaining matches critically important. However, without Neymar's services, the Brazilian side will need to find extra motivation to remain in the premier division.
Neymar Falls Short of Carlo Ancelotti's Challenge
During November's international window, Brazil's national team manager Carlo Ancelotti set a challenge for Neymar to maintain his fitness and regain peak condition if he hoped to feature for the Seleção in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
"I believed Neymar was simply a Brazilian discussion point, but I realize it's a worldwide matter," Ancelotti commented before his team's 1–1 tie with Tunisia. "Thankfully, he bounced back from his injury. He now has six months to compete.
"Neymar remains among the players who might feature at the World Cup. He now has six months to secure his spot on the final roster. We must simply monitor him and other candidates to prevent errors in our ultimate selection."
Another injury setback is precisely what Neymar didn't need while trying to secure his position in Brazil's World Cup 2026 roster. Ancelotti hasn't selected the Seleção's record goalscorer since assuming control in May, and this latest development will likely increase the Italian coach's concerns about the forward's physical condition.