Overview
- Santos had initially been advised that Neymar required arthroscopic surgery, with ESPN Brasil reporting plans to delay his return until 2026.
- Neymar started against Sport Recife, opened the scoring in Vila Belmiro, and later delivered the corner that led to Santos’ third goal.
- The win lifted Santos to 16th place, two points above the drop, with two matches left against Juventude away and Cruzeiro at home.
- The club confirmed his inclusion in the squad following a fresh medical assessment that permitted him to play despite the tear.
- His contract runs to December 31 and any renewal discussions, as well as the timing of potential surgery, hinge on Santos’ survival and his fitness outlook.