Neymar’s Knee Surgery Sparks New Doubts Over His 2026 Return

Brazil forward Neymar Jr. will undergo knee surgery soon, a development that casts real doubt on his chances of making the 2026 World Cup. He pushed through a full match for Santos on Sunday even though he was clearly hurting. Most fans barely noticed because the team rolled to a 3-0 win over Cruzeiro. Gasps rolled through the stands when he admitted later that the pain had followed him for weeks.

Santos Win, But Worry Grows

He looked tired from the opening minutes, yet he still played with intent and helped Santos stay clear of an immediate return to Serie B. His fans had waited months to see this kind of fight from him after one setback followed another. 

Since January, he has scored five goals in four league matches, and each one lifted the stadium. His strike in the 51st minute did it again. That shot had the crowd on its feet, even as he limped back into position.

After the match, he paused, took a breath, and said, “I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me.” His tone carried a mix of relief and fatigue. “If it weren’t for the people who lifted me up, I wouldn’t have played these matches. I need rest, and then we will have this knee surgery.”

He offered no details about the procedure or recovery window. Suddenly, the national conversation shifted from his scoring run to whether Brazil can afford to plan without him.

National Team Concerns Rise

Neymar has not featured for Brazil in more than two years. His last competitive appearance came in a 2023 loss to Uruguay, a moment that feels distant now. Injuries have piled up since then and remind everyone how quickly time is moving for him.

With the World Cup scheduled across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, the clock ticks louder. Every expert panel, every studio chat, circles back to the same question. Can he return fit? Or will Brazil carry on without the country’s most polarising star of his generation?

Coach Carlo Ancelotti has already kept his stance simple. No fitness, no selection. It sounded blunt, though fair. For a squad trying to rebuild rhythm, uncertainty around their most experienced forward offers little comfort. You could see the disappointment written on supporters’ faces as they left the stadium.

Future unclear

For now, Neymar retreats to treatment rooms while Santos prepares for life without him again. The noise around him will not quiet. He has carried expectations for more than a decade, and Brazil still measures hope through his availability.

What comes next depends on how his knee responds. And until that answer arrives, one thing remains true. The World Cup picture looks very different without him.