The end for Neymar?

With a history of injuries piling up at the age of 33, Neymar's chances of recovering in time for the 2026 World Cup are more fragile than ever.

The door to the Brazilian national team could be closed for Neymar.

Neymar’s injury nightmare is not over yet. Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has confirmed that the 33-year-old striker will be sidelined until at least November, adding to the gloom over his future at the club and the Brazilian national team.

It is understandable that Neymar was again left out when the Brazilian Football Confederation announced the squad for the two friendly matches in October against South Korea (October 10) and Japan (October 14). Coach Carlo Ancelotti recalled Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, but the number 10 star was absent due to not fully recovering from a thigh injury.

Neymar had initially hoped to return during this training camp, but has yet to reach his best form. "It's no surprise," a Brazilian federation official said. "We were told he wouldn't be able to recover in time."

The injury nightmare has not let Neymar go for more than 2 years.

According to Santos, a persistent thigh injury will force Neymar to miss until November, meaning he will miss more important matches as the club struggles in the relegation race. Santos is currently only 3 points above the relegation zone and has been in poor form, winning 1 of its last 8 matches.

Since the start of the season, Neymar has scored 6 goals in 21 matches, a modest number for a player who was once the inspiration of the whole team. Since returning to Brazil, he has continuously struggled with physical problems, which has clearly limited his professional influence.

Neymar’s latest injury has further complicated his predicament. He ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) against Uruguay in October 2023, ending his short spell at Al-Hilal early and taking almost a year to recover.

At 33 years old and with a history of injuries, each long break makes Neymar's hopes of returning to the top more fragile. Goal newspaper is concerned that Neymar no longer has enough time and fitness to participate in the 2026 World Cup.

Source: https://znews.vn/dau-cham-het-cho-neymar-post1591090.html