Neymar nearly quit! Brazilian superstar admits he 'wanted to give' up and retire from football after knee injury 'messed' with his body and mind

In October 2023, Neymar ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while representing Brazil. This severe injury sidelined him for over a year before he finally returned to the pitch after 369 days against Al-AIn in the AFC Champions League.

Despite his long-awaited comeback, Neymar's return was short-lived. He managed just 13 minutes before being withdrawn and is now nursing a separate hamstring injury with a recovery timeline estimated at four to six weeks.

Reflecting on his recovery journey, Neymar laid bare the struggles he faced in the Netflix documentary Saudi Pro League: Kickoff.

“Some days when I wake up, I want to give up,” he said.

"I admit, this injury is the one that shook me the most in my career. I was really sad, and very down mentally for the first month. I knew it was a serious and long-term injury. Being on the sidelines is tough. The beginning of an injury is quite complicated. At the start, you only feel pain. I only felt the pain, I just wanted it to stop. I wanted to bend my knee as quickly as possible so that I could regain my movement and make the pain go away."

Neymar credited his family and close friends for helping him navigate this difficult period.

“If you don’t have the people you love by your side, your family, your friends, then it can be difficult to come back from an injury like this. It really messes with your mind and your body," he said.

“I’m not 20 anymore, I was 31 when it happened. I’m very grateful to have my friends and family around. To have my children who motivate me every day."

Despite being one of the marquee players of the Saudi Pro League, Neymar’s limited impact on the pitch has fuelled rumours about his future with the club. Reports suggest Neymar could reunite with former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at MLS side Inter Miami. A return to his boyhood club Santos in Brazil is another possibility under consideration. For now, he remains focused on his rehabilitation efforts in Riyadh, determined to reclaim his place at the top of the sport.