Neymar injured, likely to miss the WC qualifiers

Neymar da Silva has suffered an injury and will be unable to help either Santos or the Brazilian national team in the coming period. According to Globo Esporte, the experienced forward complained of swelling in his thigh during training on Thursday, after which he trained only in the gym for several days, but the problem did not improve. This has most likely put Neymar’s participation with the national team in doubt for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, as Selecão play Chile on September 4 and Bolivia five days later in La Paz. Although the Brazilian Football Federation has not yet received an official medical report from Santos, it is clear that Carlo Ancelotti will most likely have to leave him out, at least for this round of qualifiers.

Neymar has a strong desire to return to the national team, for which he has not played since October 17, 2023, when he tore his ACL in the match against Uruguay. If, as expected, he is not called up on Monday, it will mean that by October he will have gone two full years without an appearance for the national side. Neymar truly has no luck. Just when it seemed like he was getting into rhythm and ready to help Santos escape from their difficult position in the Brazilian championship, the injury came. He had played eight consecutive matches for Santos. He first appeared in a friendly against Desportivo Ferroviária, then regularly featured against Flamengo, Mirassol, Internacional, Sport Recife, Juventude, Cruzeiro, and Vasco da Gama. In all those matches, he was substituted only against Cruzeiro. Since the start of the year, he has played 21 games, scoring seven goals and providing four assists.

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This is above all a big blow for Santos, who, after 19 league matches, sit in 15th place with 21 points—uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. Tonight, the team faces an away match at Bahia, a game Neymar would have missed anyway, since he is suspended due to a third yellow card picked up against Vasco da Gama. This is also a very turbulent period at Santos, as the club has sacked coach Kleber Xavier and brought in Juan Pablo Vojvoda, who signed a contract until the end of 2026. There is no doubt that Neymar’s presence at the club also influenced his decision to accept Santos’ offer.