After an uneventful stay at Al Hilal, Neymar Jr. has returned to enter the annals at Santos FC. This return to the club expresses a heartfelt symbolic emphasis of the homecoming. Known for the development of football legends such as Pelé, Rodrygo, and indeed Neymar himself, Santos still produces the best of Brazilian football talent. This therefore provides a neat closing circle to Neymar’s career journey, with him first coming into prominence through Santos before achieving global stature during his Barcelona days.
Injury-Plagued Period at Al-Hilal
Allegations against Neymar included injuries making few appearances on the pitch during his stay at Saudi club Al-Hilal. In October 2023, he suffered a severe ACL and meniscus injury in his left knee, which ruled him out for the entire season. Medical experts estimated a recovery period of 8 to 10 months, much to the disappointment of fans who were eager to see him play in the Middle East.
Injury on Santos Comeback
Neymar returned to Serie A action with Santos FC against Atletico Mineiro on April 17, 2025. But it was short-lived, as he got injured and was later taken out of the game in the 34th minute. The injury was later diagnosed as a semimembranosus muscle tear, which is among the muscles in the hamstring group. The club has not yet issued an official statement as to when he would return; the plan, however, is to have an evaluation every week by the club’s medical staff.
Emotional Struggles and Career Setbacks
In full view of all, Neymar was found crying on his way out of the playing field, embraced by his teammates. His painful relationship with injuries has been very much the durance of his career set out. Santos FC’s president, during a press conference, expressed the expectation of having to reconsider the long-term commitment toward Neymar and in assessing his present fitness, further questioning how sustainable it would be to carry on with him.
National Team Snub and the Coach’s Comments
Brazilian head coach Dorival Júnior decided not to call up Neymar for the World Cup qualifying matches soon to happen; his reason was his short game time, an indication of Neymar’s limited match fitness. Dorival stressed that Neymar should not be rushed and hinted at calling him once he proves to be ready at the club level.
Short-Term Contract and Impact at Santos
Neymar rejoined Santos on a six-month contract after mutually ending his agreement with Al Hilal in January 2025. Since his return, he has played in seven matches, scoring three goals and providing three assists. However, his absence from the recent 2-1 loss to Corinthians raised questions, especially after he was seen attending Rio’s Carnival. Neymar later revealed he had been feeling discomfort and pulled out of the match after undergoing morning fitness tests.
Latest Injury Update
As of now, no definitive return date has been announced by Santos FC. The hamstring injury Neymar sustained is unrelated to his previous injuries but could still take weeks or even months to heal depending on its severity. Fans and the club alike are hoping for a speedy recovery, but his return remains uncertain for the time being.
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