Santos head coach Cuca has jumped to the defence of Neymar following a frustrating display in the Copa do Brasil, albeit while admitting the superstar forward was "a bit below par" during their 0-0 stalemate against Cortiba. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain man’s performance compounded another difficult evening for the Brazilian side, who have managed just one win in their last six outings, and Cuca has confirmed he won't play in their next fixture.

Neymar’s homecoming at Santos has turned sour after the Brazil icon was relentlessly booed by his own supporters following a painful 3-2 defeat to Fluminense. The 34-year-old was seen leaving the pitch with his fingers in his ears before taking to social media to deliver an emotional message to his critics.

Despite being a leading figure at Santiago Bernabeu, Vinicius Jr is reportedly missing a vital ingredient required to join the pantheon of footballing greats. Former Brazil and Atletico Madrid defender Joao Miranda has offered a stinging appraisal of the Brazilian winger’s standing in the global game. The Real Madrid star has been told he is still a long way off reaching the legendary heights of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona’s Champions League campaign may have ended in heartbreak against Atletico Madrid, but the performance of Lamine Yamal left a lasting impression on one of the club's former greats, Neymar. Despite the disappointment of exiting the competition at the quarter-final stage, Yamal’s emergence as a genuine leader at the age of just 18 has convinced many that he is the heir to the throne at Camp Nou.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has taken the extraordinary step of consulting the country's president, Lula, over whether Neymar should be included in the squad for the 2026 World Cup. The Santos forward's international future has become a matter of state importance as he battles recurring fitness issues in his homeland.