Neymar Jr is throwing everything at one last World Cup.
The Santos forward has undergone fresh knee surgery, opting for another operation in a bid to be fully fit for what is expected to be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Santos coach Cuca revealed the news on the eve of the club’s Copa Sudamericana opener against Cuenca, explaining that his star man has been absent from training after using the recent FIFA international break to head back to the operating theatre.
“Neymar underwent knee surgery during the FIFA international break. He hasn’t trained. He spent a few days recovering from the operation,” Cuca said.
This is not a new problem. After the end of the last Brazilian league season, Neymar had already chosen to have knee surgery on medical advice, accepting another spell of rehabilitation to protect a joint that has taken a heavy beating over the years.
Now the stakes have risen.
According to reports in Spain, the Brazilian has returned to surgery for regenerative treatment using platelet-rich plasma, a procedure designed to strengthen damaged tissue in the knee and give the joint a better chance of holding up under the demands of elite football.
He scheduled the treatment during the international window, a period he had initially hoped would see him back in the Brazil squad. Instead of minutes on the pitch, he has had days in recovery and the start of yet another tailored programme aimed at getting him to the World Cup in one piece.
The plan is clear: rebuild his body for the final sprint towards the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, and force his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad.
At 32, with a history of serious injuries and a career spent under a harsh spotlight, Neymar knows this is his last realistic shot at lifting the trophy that has always eluded him. The gamble is brutal but simple: endure more surgery now to avoid breaking down when it matters most.
Whether his knee, and Ancelotti, will cooperate is another question entirely.
