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Santos head coach Cuca has announced that Neymar is set to feature in 13 straight matches leading up to this summer's World Cup, giving the 34-year-old his strongest opportunity to earn a spot in Carlo Ancelotti's final squad.
Neymar has appeared to rediscover his form since making his comeback from injury in 2026, contributing to six goals in as many outings for the club where he began his career. However, concerns emerged this weekend when the attacker was absent from Santos' 3–1 loss to Flamengo after having a knee procedure carried out during the March international break.
Cuca also confirmed that Neymar will miss the club's midweek fixture against Deportivo Cuenca in the opening round of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, though this is all part of Santos' carefully laid-out plan for the World Cup hopeful.
"During this break we had, he underwent a procedure on his knee, so he didn't train and spent four or five days recovering from that procedure. He worked on some of the conditioning he needed to achieve. He came to the game against Remo, was out, and is doing work this week on strength, speed, and endurance," Cuca explained.
"He'll recharge his energy to play the 13 consecutive games that remain until the next break. So we used this time, with the coaching staff and physiologists, to recharge his tank and get him going until the middle of the year."
What Procedure Did Neymar Have Done?
Any medical procedure is rarely welcome news for a player, particularly one with Neymar's extensive history of injuries. However, on this occasion, the trip to the treatment table represented a positive step in the Brazilian's seemingly endless pursuit of full fitness.
Neymar received Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, a treatment that utilizes the player's own blood to stimulate tissue regeneration and assist in the recovery of micro-lesions.
According to ESPN, the treatment forms part of Santos' broader strategy to keep Neymar fit enough to participate in the club's fixtures ahead of the World Cup. The ultimate objective, however, remains preparing the Barcelona icon to compete at the tournament being held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Uncertainty Still Looms Over Neymar's World Cup Future
Even if Neymar does complete the next 13 matches for Santos — which include eight Brasileirão rounds, two Copa do Brasil fixtures, and the remaining Copa Sudamericana group stage games — there is still no certainty he will receive a World Cup call-up.
Brazil manager Ancelotti has repeatedly stressed that Neymar will not earn a place in his squad unless he is "at 100% of his capability." It remains unclear exactly how many consecutive appearances the forward must make to convince the Italian coach of his fitness, particularly if his version of 100% doesn't match what the manager demands.
While Ancelotti's squad has its shortcomings, a lack of attacking options is certainly not among them. With the likes of Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, João Pedro, Estêvão, Endrick, and Gabriel Martinelli available, the five-time World Cup winners are abundantly stocked in the final third.
Ancelotti appears to place greater trust in those players, who continue to perform consistently for elite European clubs, than in the injury-prone Neymar, who has not represented Brazil since rupturing his ACL back in October 2023.