Neymar's injury hell continues as Santos president confirms Brazil star will be out for longer than expected amid fears over 2026 World Cup hopes

Santos confirmed earlier that Neymar’s thigh injury will keep him out until November, ruling him out of upcoming fixtures in both league play and international duty. President Marcelo Teixeira explained that the former Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona forward is targeting a return for the final stretch of the season, as Santos fight to avoid relegation.

The Sao Paulo giants are just five points clear of the drop zone after a 2-2 draw with Bragantino, and Neymar’s continued absence leaves them without their talisman in a crucial run of games. The 33-year-old has already missed large chunks of the season and, despite six goals in 21 appearances, his impact has been limited by recurring setbacks.

This latest blow adds to a worrying trend. Neymar tore his ACL against Uruguay in October 2023 while playing for Brazil, an injury that derailed his short stint at Al-Hilal and sidelined him for a year. Since his return to Santos, he has struggled to string together consistent performances, forcing Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti to leave him out of the squad for recent qualifiers.

Ancelotti recently said of the Brazilian: "I want him to be really well to be able to play. He can participate in the World Cup if he is physically well. From a technical point of view, there is no discussion. His objective must be to be ready in June. It does not matter whether he is in the list in October, November or March."

The Brazilian’s rehabilitation program is set to continue for at least six more weeks, with hopes he can rejoin Santos in December for the final league fixtures. For Brazil, the question is whether he can recover in time to be fully fit for the 2026 World Cup cycle. At 33, with time running out, every setback raises fresh doubts about whether the Selecao’s No.10 will ever reach his old heights again.

Additional reporting by Patrick Tchanhoun.