Neymar (foto: Getty Images)
Neymar will miss Santos' Serie A opener against Vasco da Gama with a thigh injury, delaying his return to action after pulling out of Brazil’s squad earlier this month.
Neymar has been ruled out of Santos’ much-anticipated 2025 Serie A opener against Vasco da Gama this weekend due to a thigh injury, continuing the Brazilian star’s ongoing struggle with fitness.
The 33-year-old forward, who returned to his boyhood club Santos from Al-Hilal in January, had reignited hopes of a fresh chapter in his career after falling out of favour at club and international level in recent months. However, his highly awaited comeback will have to wait at least another week.
According to TNT Sports Brazil, Neymar has failed to recover in time and is not match-fit to feature in Santos’ first top-flight game since their promotion back to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
The injury had already forced Neymar to withdraw from Brazil’s national team squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, where his absence was clearly felt. The Seleção suffered a crushing 4–1 defeat to Argentina, with goals from Julian Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, and Giuliano Simeone exposing Brazil’s lack of firepower and leadership on the pitch.
Neymar has not played for Brazil since September 2024 and is still seeking full fitness. He will now aim to make his Santos debut in the club’s second league match, scheduled for April 4 against Bahia.
Santos fans had been hoping to see their hometown hero lead the line in a historic moment for the club, but they will now have to wait a little longer for Neymar’s return to competitive action in Brazil’s top division.