Ikhtisar Messina

Midweek opportunities in the Brazilian Serie A allow us to capitalise on teams with strong attacking and defensive profiles. We assess the key ones.

Neymar could not contain his emotions on Sunday as he broke down in tears during the Brazilian national anthem prior to Santos' Serie A clash with Coritiba. With the Selecao's 2026 World Cup squad announcement scheduled for Monday, the legendary forward appears fully aware of the stakes surrounding his potential inclusion.

Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr was left absolutely furious on Sunday after a bizarre administrative error saw him substituted by mistake during Santos' crushing 3-0 home defeat against Coritiba. While receiving medical treatment on the touchline, the forward's number was incorrectly displayed, sparking a massive confrontation that was caught on camera.

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.