The former soccer magic Neymar fights with recurring injuries and dwindling acceptance in his home country. What was intended as a triumphal return to Santos becomes a sample.
It was a scene that could not have been more symbolic: after only 33 minutes of play in the game against Atlético Mineiro, Neymar collapsed with tears. Once again his body had failed, once again a muscular injury forced him to go prematurely into the cabin.
What was celebrated as an emotional return to FC Santos at the end of January is now like a tragic history without a happy ending. The former superstar, who enchanted the football world at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, no longer fights for titles, but for his career.
Neymar leaves the place injured
“I don’t think he will ever be fit again to play football at the highest level,” says Julio Gomes, a renowned sports journalist from Brazil, in an interview with Sport1 . “He just doesn’t pay well enough on his body.”
This devastating diagnosis of a compatriot summarizes, which many think long ago. Since moving to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023, Neymar has hardly played football. A cruciate ligament rupture in October 2023 during an international match put it out of action for almost a whole year.
At Al Hilal, where he had signed a contract for the equivalent of 150 million euros per year, he only came up with seven missions.
Money for Neymar “The top priority”
The move to Saudi Arabia was controversial from the start. “Neymar could not go anywhere after leaving PSG. Nobody had the money he and his father wanted,” explains Gomes. “He did what he had to do when money is the top priority – and that has always been the case in his career.”
The Brazilian journalist became particularly clear when he questioned the professionalism of the superstar: “He was much more time than usual to return to football, he felt no obligation towards his donors.”
At the beginning of 2025, the supposed rescue was followed: Neymar returned to his youth club FC Santos after having mutually resolved his contract in Saudi Arabia.
Neymar received with great symbolism
The Brazilian, who played at Santos from 2009 to 2013 and scored 138 goals in 228 games, signed a contract until summer 2025. The club received its lost son-including a ki-generated video, in which no less than the late Pelé encouraged him to return.
In Brazil, opinions about the national heroes are deeply divided. “Half of the country thinks that Brazil needs Neymar. The other half thinks that he is a load and no enrichment,” explains Gomes at Sport1 .
Particularly interesting: “I do not think that a lot of people feel sorry for him. After the last injury, one week before the final of the Paulista championship against Corinthians, he danced at the carnival. So nobody has pity with him.”
This scene illustrates the core problem: Despite its extraordinary talent, Neymar is regularly criticized. At Santos, he runs on with the historical number 10, which once made Pelé immortal, but while the jersey testifies to tradition and size, his own career can no longer come off the spot.
Since his return at the end of January, he has had nine missions, scored three goals and gave three templates. The most recent injury to the game against Atlético Mineiro, which Santos won 2-0 from Wednesday to Thursday, was the third set up since his return.
Santos can cope without Neymar
FC Santos meanwhile proves in the still young league season that it can work without his superstar. Four game days are hardly more than a snapshot, but the 13th place in the table gives the promoted air to breathe.
The previous record of a win, a defeat and two draws can be seen. In the victory against Atlético Mineiro, it also worked without a superstar Neymar, which was replaced early – on the first two match days, the Brazilian was missing because of a thigh injury.
At the Camponato Paulista, the regional tournament of the state of Sao Paulo, Santos reached the semi -finals.
Brazil without Neymar
In the meantime, the Brazilian national team is on a crossroads. In March 2025, national coach Dorival Júnior was released in office after only one year.
The decision was followed by a clear 1: 4 defeat against the arch-rival Argentina in the World Cup qualification. Brazil is currently only in fourth place in the South American World Cup qualification.
In this tense situation of the national team, a Neymar playing form would actually be a valuable factor. With 79 goals in 128 missions, he is finally a record scorer of the Selecao.
But reality looks different: Neymar was originally nominated for the decisive World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina, but he had to fit just before the games because of his recurring thigh problems.
With 79 goals, Neymar is the sole record goal scorer of Brazil
His long -awaited comeback burst in the national jersey, he was painted out of the squad and replaced by youngster endrick. So while Brazil is fighting for the World Cup qualification, the former top performer seems to be far from an international return.
“Never again on the big stages of Europe”
Speculations about a possible return to Europe, for example back to Barcelona or FC Bayern Munich, wipes journalist Gomes aside.
Such rumors are nothing but strategically placed information behind which there are certain interests. The journalist was convinced that no European top team had a serious interest in a obligation in Neymar – his time on the big football stage in Europe was over.
“Yes, he can be fit enough to play at a short tournament or in the Brazilian league, but never again on the big stages of Europe,” Gomes ruthlessly judges.
So the future of the former child prodigy remains uncertain. At the age of 33, Neymar was in a dead end, from which there may be no way out.
His story, which once started as a fairy tale, threatens to become a warning for future generations: Talent alone is not enough if the body does not play along – and your own attitude is questionable.