Neymar has successfully undergone arthroscopic surgery on his knee, his club Santos announced on Monday, as the winger aims to regain full fitness and earn a place in the Brazil squad for next year’s World Cup.
The 33-year-old returned to his childhood club Santos in January and played a pivotal role in their survival in the Brazilian top flight, playing through the pain and scoring five goals in their last four matches.
In a statement on Monday, Santos confirmed that the surgery was performed by the Brazilian national team’s doctor, Rodrigo Lasmar. “An arthroscopy was performed to treat a medial meniscus injury. The surgery was a success, and the athlete is doing well,” they added.
Santos did not provide a timeline for his return, although Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte reported that his recovery could take up to a month. Neymar, Brazil’s leading goalscorer with 79 goals, has not featured for the five-time World Cup winners since 2023 due to a succession of injuries.
In October, national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti stated he must be fit if he is to earn a recall to the squad for the World Cup, which takes place from 11 June to 19 July in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Brazil will face Scotland, 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, and Haiti in Group C.
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