Neymar Ruled OUT for Rest of 2025: Knee Injury Devastates Santos’ Relegation Fight as World Cup Dreams Fade

In a devastating blow that could define both club and country’s fortunes, Neymar has been ruled out for the remainder of 2025 after suffering a meniscus injury in his left knee, according to reports from ge.globo. The 33-year-old Brazilian superstar will miss Santos‘ final three crucial matches as the club desperately battles to avoid relegation from Brazil’s top flight, while his own hopes of participating in the 2026 World Cup slowly slip away.

The injury, sustained during Santos’ match against Mirassol on November 19, 2025, represents another chapter in Neymar’s nightmare return to his boyhood club. After leaving Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in January 2025 following an 18-month absence due to a torn ACL in the same knee, Neymar’s homecoming was supposed to signal a triumphant renaissance. Instead, it has devolved into a tragic tale of recurring setbacks, dashed expectations, and mounting desperation.

The Latest Injury: What Happened Against Mirassol

Neymar opened the scoring early against Mirassol on November 19, looking fired up and ready to lead Santos out of their relegation crisis. However, before halftime, he began showing visible discomfort and hobbled off the pitch. Despite the pain, the forward toughed out the full 90 minutes—a decision that may have exacerbated the injury.

According to UOL Esporte, Neymar experienced significant discomfort in his left knee after the match, feeling pain when attempting to bend it. The injury was serious enough that he didn’t even travel with the squad to Porto Alegre for Monday’s crucial clash against Internacional, a fellow relegation struggler.

Two days after being ruled out, news emerged that the injury was far more serious than initially believed. Ge.globo reported that Neymar had suffered a meniscus injury—critically, in the same left knee where he tore his ACL and meniscus while playing for Brazil against Uruguay in October 2023. That injury required surgery and kept him sidelined for approximately 18 months, ultimately leading to the mutual termination of his Al-Hilal contract.

With no structural damage reported but significant pain present, both club and player are taking an extremely cautious approach. Given Neymar’s history with this particular knee, rushing his return could risk another long-term setback that might end his career at the highest level.

Santos in Crisis: Three Matches to Avoid Disaster

The timing of Neymar’s injury could hardly be worse for Santos. The club currently sits in 17th place in the Brazilian Serie A table—squarely in the relegation zone—with just three matches remaining in the 2025 campaign. They’re only one point above safety, making every remaining fixture absolutely critical.

Without their talisman, Santos must now navigate their final three matches knowing that their attack has lost its most dangerous weapon. The fixtures offer a mixed bag of difficulty, creating a nerve-wracking finale for one of Brazil’s most storied clubs.

Santos’ Final Three Fixtures:

Match 1 – Santos vs Sport Recife (Friday, November 29): Sport Recife sit bottom of the table in 20th place with just 17 points and have already been relegated. This represents Santos’ best and most essential opportunity for three points. Anything less than a victory would be catastrophic.

Match 2 – Santos vs Juventude (Wednesday, December 3): Another relegation-zone opponent with 33 points in 19th place. Like Santos, Juventude are fighting for survival, making this a classic “six-pointer” where the winner gains three points while the loser effectively loses six in relative terms.

Match 3 – Santos vs Cruzeiro (Sunday, December 7): The most daunting challenge arrives last. Cruzeiro sit in third place and represent one of the league’s top teams. This match at Vila Belmiro could determine Santos’ fate in front of their home supporters.

Santos head coach acknowledged the devastating nature of losing Neymar for the run-in: “I have to talk to him, I’m not in his physical presence and I will respect Neymar’s decisions. But his commitment is to be there, he always wants to be there. He’s a player we need for all three rounds and he’ll help us. He’s our leader on the field.”

The coach revealed that Neymar felt discomfort before the Mirassol game and throughout the match: “The following day he was experiencing significant discomfort in that knee. We know we have games every three days. He felt he wouldn’t be able to meet the demands of today’s game.”

The 2026 World Cup: A Dream Slipping Away

Perhaps even more significant than Santos’ relegation battle is what this injury means for Neymar’s international career. The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico represents what would be his fourth World Cup appearance and potentially his final opportunity to win the trophy that has eluded him throughout his career.

Current Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has made Neymar’s World Cup inclusion contingent on fitness and performance. Speaking during Brazil’s November camp, Ancelotti issued a clear ultimatum: “Neymar is on the list of players who can go to the World Cup. He has six months to make the final list. 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.”

The former Real Madrid and AC Milan manager added pointed advice about the modern game’s demands: “The truth is that soccer today asks for many things, not just talent. Also physical condition, intensity. Hopefully Neymar can be at his best level.”

With Neymar now sidelined until 2026, his path to proving himself has become exponentially more difficult. The Brazilian league season won’t resume until late March 2026, leaving Neymar with virtually no competitive action between now and the World Cup, which kicks off June 11, 2026.

There’s only one international break remaining—in March 2026—before Brazil must finalize their 26-player World Cup roster. Without consistent match fitness and form, Ancelotti faces an enormous dilemma: select a player based on past reputation and talent, or choose someone currently performing at the required level.

A Nightmare Return to Santos

When Neymar was unveiled by Santos in late January 2025 following the cancellation of his Al-Hilal contract, the excitement was palpable. The prodigal son had returned to his boyhood club, where he first burst onto the world stage as a teenager, leading Santos to Copa Libertadores glory in 2011.

The plan made perfect sense on paper: Santos would benefit from his star power and goal-scoring ability in their first season back in Serie A following promotion from Serie B. Meanwhile, Neymar would accumulate crucial match fitness and form to force his way back into the Brazil national team ahead of the World Cup.

Reality, however, has proven far crueler. While Neymar’s return of seven goals and three assists in 25 appearances across all competitions shows flashes of his ability, he has been unavailable far more often than he’s been able to contribute. The constant injury setbacks have prevented him from building any rhythm or consistency.

The recurring injuries paint a troubling picture:

• March: Hamstring injury causing edema in his left thigh
• April: Semimembranosus muscle injury in his left thigh
• September: Grade 2 injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his right thigh
• November: Meniscus injury in his previously surgically repaired left knee

Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has remained publicly optimistic about Neymar’s future with the club, stating earlier this month: “Neymar’s project is the 2026 World Cup. If there’s consensus, he will extend.”

However, Neymar’s contract expires at the end of December 2025, and no breakthrough has been reached on an extension. With the forward now sidelined and facing an uncertain future, there’s a very real possibility that his final appearance for Santos has already occurred.

Statistical Reality: Are Santos Better Without Neymar?

An uncomfortable truth has emerged from statistical analysis of Santos’ 2025 campaign: the numbers suggest they may actually perform better without Neymar on the pitch. While he provides moments of individual brilliance and goal-scoring threat, his constant absences have forced Santos to develop alternative strategies and rely on squad depth.

However, Santos’ head coach pushed back against this narrative, emphasizing Neymar’s leadership and psychological impact: “What was important was having leadership: Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva were very important in that. When he doesn’t play, and we win, it’s ‘Who needs him…’. One thing is the popular, street debate, and another is the competitiveness in the locker room.”

What Happens Next for Neymar?

With his Santos contract expiring in December and his injury keeping him out until at least January 2026, Neymar faces several uncertain months. Speculation has emerged about a potential return to Europe, where he could secure higher-level competition to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup.

However, finding a European club willing to take a gamble on a 33-year-old with chronic injury problems represents a significant challenge. Major clubs have become increasingly risk-averse regarding older players with questionable fitness, especially those who haven’t played consistent top-level football for over two years.

The alternative—remaining in Brazil or exploring other leagues—offers fewer opportunities to convince Ancelotti that he deserves World Cup inclusion. The Italian manager has shown no sentimentality in his selections, making clear that Neymar must earn his place through performance rather than reputation.

Neymar may only return to full training at the start of 2026, according to multiple reports. With the Brazilian season not resuming until late March, he faces a race against time that grows more desperate by the day.

The Cruel Irony of Timing

The cruelest aspect of Neymar’s situation is the timing. Having finally recovered from his 18-month ACL nightmare, having reunited with his boyhood club, and with a World Cup on the horizon offering one final chance at glory, his body has betrayed him at the worst possible moment.

For Santos, losing Neymar as they fight for survival represents a catastrophic blow to both their on-field capabilities and their psychological resilience. The club that gave Neymar to the world now desperately needs him to save them from relegation—but he won’t be there.

For Neymar himself, this injury may represent the beginning of the end. At 33, with chronic problems in both knees and thighs, and with his last truly great season coming with PSG in 2022-23, the question is no longer whether he can reach his peak form—it’s whether he can stay healthy enough to play at all.

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