Neymar Injury Update: Brazilian Forward return to Brazil squad in question before the World Cup

You remember when Neymar played his last match for Al Hilal? Neither do his fans! After completing an invisible stint, Al Hilal Neymar De Santos Silva Junior decided to join his boyhood club, Santos FC. The Brazilian club, Santos FC, is a hub for budding footballers in Brazil. Players like Neymar Jr., Pelé, Rodrygo, and others have registered their appearances for this iconic club in Brazil’s Serie A.

Neymar’s move to Santos will be a full circle in his career. He started his professional career at Santos FC and was later picked up by the scouts of FC Barcelona, and the rest is history. This addition will be valuable for the club as it will motivate more players in the country to come up and join football and contribute to the country’s iconic sport.

Neymar’s journey in Al Hilal was mostly spent in an audience seat; he was unable to play due to his unfortunate injuries. Neymar’s time at Al Hilal was cut short by a serious injury that made his fans upset, and those who were excited to see Neymar playing on their home turf have seen a glimpse of his magic on the field, despite suffering a few injury problems since he moved to Santos.

Brazil's all-time top scorer had succumbed to a series of injury woes following a recurrence of a thigh injury, missing nearly 20 games for Santos. Neymar has made progress in terms of keeping himself fit and playing regularly, but his lack of fitness and injury-prone nature could force him to miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Neymar Jr. Latest Injury Update

The 33-year-old hasn't been in contention for a call-up to the Brazil national team in the past few international breaks, dealing with injury concerns. Neymar's recurring fitness issues have cast doubt on his possible inclusion. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly still keen on including Neymar in the Seleção squad.

Considering the squad depth and the host of quality players in every attacking position have delayed his return to the national team has been delayed recently. Regardless, Ancelotti has hinted that the former PSG forward still have the chance to mark his comeback for Brazil, given he keeps himself intact from injury.

Neymar Injury Update: Santos Forward Fighting to Save His Team From Relegation

Neymar was slowly regaining his form, having netted 4 goals in 17 Serie A appearances in 2025. Most recently, his advancement had taken a hit a following a recurrence of a thigh injury during a practice session amid Santos's struggles to stay afloat in the Brazilian top division.

Fortunately, he has been working on his fitness and has played the last three league games for Santos. In his most recent outing, Neymar broke his goal drought, scoring in a 1-1 draw against Mirassol in the Brazilian Serie A. This came as the first goal for the ex-Barca winger since August this year.

A relegation scare is looming over Santos, and their captain, Neymar, will be a key figure for the club to stay atop. They are currently in 16th position on the league table, a point clear of the relegation zone with 37 points in total after playing 34 matches. With just four games left, Neymar will be determined to save his boyhood club from relegation while aiming to re-enter the national team squad.

FIFA World Cup 2026 in Doubt as Neymar’s Injury Concerns Grow

FIFA World Cup 2026 is on the cards with just six months left for the summer spectacle. The five-time world champions, Brazil, have already qualified for the tournament. The Yellow Canaries are playing exciting football under the supervision of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti and boast attacking sensations like Vini Jr, Raphinha, Estêvão, Cunha and Rodrygo more.

Brazil's record goal scorer, Neymar Jr, with 79 international goals and a staggering 128 caps for Brazil, still hopes to play the 2026 World Cup. The talismanic forward hasn't played for Selecao in the last two years, since October 2023. He suffered a devastating knee injury during a South American World Cup qualification match against Uruguay.

Despite all the troubles, Neymar has a last chance to earn a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad, with Carlo Ancelotti not ruling out his chances of playing the tournament. The coach stated, “Neymar has recovered, but he needs to show performance. When the Brazilian league ends, he’ll have some vacation time, and then he must show his quality and physical condition again."

Carlo said, "Neymar is on the list of players who can go to the World Cup. He has six months to make the final list". This means, Neymar has six months of time to recover, gain consistency and prove himself to secure a call-up from Brazil's head coach for the World Cup squad.