Will Neymar Have Surgery on Knee Injury Ahead of 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup?

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming, one of Brazil's stars has a recovery ahead of him.

According to the Associated Press, Neymar said after Santos' match on Sunday that he will have surgery on his left knee.

Neymar reported knee soreness after Santos' 1–1 draw with Mirassol on Nov. 19 and missed the following match as a precaution. It was later reported that he had suffered a torn meniscus and was expected to miss the remainder of the season.

But with Santos on the brink of elimination, he opted to play through the injury and helped his club avoid relegation with Sunday's win. Had Santos been relegated, it would have been just the second in its history—the first relegation came in 2023.

While playing through the injury might take a slight toll on his chances of suiting up in the World Cup, it also means that his first year back with the club he began his career with won't end in regulation.

Now, Neymar will look to make a speedy comeback from surgery and prepare to make an impact for Brazil over the summer. According to Goal.com's Abhinav Sharma, the recommended solution for Neymar's torn meniscus is arthroscopic surgery that would leave him sidelined for at least a month.

Injuries have unfortunately been the story for Neymar in recent years. Before his meniscus injury this year, he dealt with a hamstring injury that left him sidelined for more than a month. He also dealt with hamstring injuries last spring.

The most serious of his recent injuries was a torn ACL in 2023, which was also the last time he played for Brazil. The knee he'll have surgery on is the same knee in which he suffered the torn ACL.