Neymar has fans concerned that he will be in no fit state to form part of Brazil’s squad at the 2026 World Cup, with a viral clip of the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar in action for Santos leading to accusations of the 34-year-old playmaker being “done”. Neymar is still clinging to the dream of representing his country at another major international tournament this summer.
Neymar has endured a so-called “disaster” with Santos that could leave his World Cup dreams with Brazil hanging by a thread. The Samba superstar has returned to action in his homeland, having recovered from a knee operation, but failed to sparkle early in 2026. He needs to convince Selecao boss Carlo Ancelotti that he is deserving of an international recall.
Neymar experienced mixed emotions when making his return to action with Santos. The Brazil international, who is clinging to his 2026 World Cup dream, is back on the field after recovering from knee surgery. He is looking to play his way towards full fitness, with an eventful cameo appearance being taken in when stepping off the bench in a meeting with Velo Clube.
Memphis Depay slipped and missed a penalty in Corinthians' derby clash with Palmeiras in the Paulista A1 on Sunday, after an act of sabotage from his ex-Manchester United team-mate Andreas Pereira. Depay blew the chance to open the scoring from the spot in the first half, and Corinthians ended up losing 1-0, with Jose Manuel Lopez scoring the winner for Palmeiras in the 84th minute.
Neymar has officially commenced his rehabilitation program following knee surgery, marking the first step in his bid to secure a place in Brazil's World Cup squad. The 33-year-old was spotted at the Santos training ground on Thursday, looking in good spirits as he began the hard work required to return to the pitch ahead of the new season.
Neymar has flaunted his latest extravagant purchase on social media, revealing a custom-made Batmobile worth £1.3 million that he cannot even drive on the road. The Brazilian superstar, who is a self-confessed superhero fanatic, parked the menacing vehicle alongside his £10m Batman-themed helicopter and £37m private jet to complete a stunning collection worth nearly £50m.
Since the Conference League's inception in 2021, three teams have lifted the trophy: Roma, West Ham United, and the current champions, Olympiacos.
How many teams are in the Conference League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format.
Who has made the most Conference League appearances ever?
Mainz 05 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Gent captain Sven Kums have made 39 appearances each in the Conference League, making them the players with the most appearances in the competition.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Conference League?
As for top goalscorers, Arthur Cabral leads the list with 21 goals to his name, including those scored in the qualifying phase. However, without taking into account goals scored in the qualifying phase, three players have scored the joint-most goals in Conference League with 12 each to their names: Arthur Cabral, Eran Zahavi, and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Conference League?
Darian Males, Gavriel Kanichowsky, and Cristiano Biraghi have the most assists in Conference League history, registering eight assists each.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while playing for Villarreal in 2023, became the oldest player to feature in the Conference League at 40 years and 175 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi holds the record as the Conference League's youngest-ever player at the tender age of 16 years and 3 days.
Which famous players have played in the Conference League?
Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins,Co Mario Gotze, Kasper Schmeichel, Cody Gakpo, Stephan El Shaarawy, James Maddison, Jonathan David, and Edin Dzeko have played in the Conference League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Conference League?
Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Unai Emery, David Moyes, and Ange Postecoglou are among the most famous managers to have managed in the Conference League.