In recent months, Neymar has made headlines for reasons beyond the pitch. The Brazilian star faced difficulties at Santos, experiencing tension with teammates over his behavior and clashing with a journalist on social media. His goal of rejoining the Brazilian national team for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico feels far off.
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Recently, Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that he expected Neymar to be fit by the end of the season. In an interview with AS, he stated, “No one can doubt Neymar’s talent, but he has struggled with injuries lately. He is back in competition but needs to regain his physical form. That’s normal in today’s demanding football environment.”
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Neymar Steps Up
To reassure his coach, Neymar understood the importance of performing well on the field, especially in crucial matches. This was put to the test as Santos, fighting relegation, played against league leaders Palmeiras in a derby. The 32-year-old Brazilian rose to the occasion, delivering an outstanding performance that helped Santos escape the relegation zone. With 5 key passes, 4 successful dribbles, and the highest pass completion rate on his team, Neymar was named man of the match and was emotional after the game.
