Brazilian football star Neymar was visibly distraught as he left the pitch in tears after suffering a leg injury just 34 minutes into his first Brazilian Serie A Championship start of the season for Santos.
The 33-year-old forward, who had recently recovered from a six-week thigh injury sustained against Fluminense on Sunday, was named in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s match against Atletico-MG.
Neymar was wearing a special commemorative number 100 jersey to mark his 100th appearance at Santos’ iconic Vila Belmiro stadium. However, shortly after Alvaro Barreal scored the home side’s second goal to make it 2-0, Neymar gestured to the bench, indicating discomfort, and sat down on the field to receive medical attention.
It quickly became apparent that he could not continue playing. A visibly emotional Neymar was then taken off the field on a medical buggy, clutching the left-thigh area that had sidelined him for the previous six weeks.
Neymar was comforted by his Santos teammates, as well as former Brazil teammate and Atletico-MG forward Hulk, who offered words of support to the visibly upset star.
Santos coach Cesar Sampaio addressed the media after the match, stating, “It’s still too early to give any definitive answer, we don’t have a diagnosis yet. We will have a better understanding after further examination. Now we really have to pray that it’s not something that will keep him out for a long time.”
Since his return to Santos from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, the former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward has made eight appearances, scoring three goals.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, has been absent from the national team since October 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. While he was initially named in Brazil’s squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Colombia, he was ultimately forced to withdraw due to a separate muscle injury, highlighting his recent struggles with fitness.
This latest setback will undoubtedly raise further concerns about his physical condition and his ability to consistently feature for both club and country.
