Neymar Faces Career Crossroads: Injury, Decline, and Brazil’s World Cup Dilemma

Neymar’s Season Unravels: From Hope to Uncertainty

There was a sense of poetic symmetry at the start of 2025. Neymar, the prodigal son, returned to Santos—his boyhood club and the stage of his earliest triumphs. The narrative wrote itself: one last shot at World Cup glory, the chance to re-ignite a career dimmed by injuries and unfulfilled promise. Yet, as the year draws to a close, this story has taken a dramatic turn. Neymar’s campaign has been defined by physical setbacks, mounting frustration, and a club desperate for salvation.

After a high-profile stint in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal, Neymar’s move back to Brazil was supposed to be a homecoming of hope. But the reality was harsher than the headlines. Coach Jorge Jesus refused to register him, citing fitness issues, and Santos—still reeling from their first-ever relegation in 2023—looked to Neymar for inspiration. Instead, they found a player battling his own body and the weight of expectation. As ESPN reports, Santos remain trapped in the relegation zone, while Neymar’s contributions on the pitch have been sporadic at best.

Injury Woes and On-Field Frustration

The physical toll has been relentless. What began as minor discomfort in his knee escalated into a torn meniscus by November, confirmed by Santos in an official statement. This latest injury is Neymar’s fourth major setback in 2025, following recurring ankle problems, muscle strains, and lingering effects from a 2023 ACL rupture. Local media described his year as a cycle of stop-start frustration—never enough time on the pitch to regain rhythm or confidence.

Neymar’s output has mirrored his struggles. In the 17 league matches he managed to play, he tallied just four goals and no assists, according to Planet Football. While his vision and set-piece prowess occasionally flashed, the electric dribbling and improvisation that once set him apart have faded. Coaches at Santos have wrestled with how best to deploy him, shifting Neymar to a free-roaming center forward role to spare him defensive duties. The results have been mixed: memorable moments, but not enough to lift the club or silence critics.

Off the ball, tension has boiled over. Neymar has clashed with referees, opponents, and even teammates. The Maracanã incident, where he blamed others for Santos’ poor showing against Flamengo and reacted angrily to being substituted, captured the sense of internal turmoil. Once a beloved figure in the locker room, he now finds himself isolated, with his future at the club uncertain if relegation becomes reality.

World Cup Dreams in Doubt: Ancelotti’s New Brazil

Neymar’s predicament is sharpened by the shifting sands of the national team. Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s new manager, has not called up Neymar since taking charge. The message has been clear: “He has six months to show his form. He needs continuity, minutes, and physical condition, because talent alone is no longer enough in modern football,” Ancelotti told World Soccer Talk. With the Brazilian Serie A season ending on December 7 and Neymar sidelined by injury, those six months have evaporated. Early medical estimates suggest he may not return until deep into 2026—well beyond the window for World Cup squad selection.

Brazil’s preparatory friendlies begin in March, less than seven months before the tournament. For a player who once defined his generation, the route back is now a narrow one. The sense of a missed opportunity is palpable, both for Neymar and for the fans who hoped his homecoming might spark a renaissance.

Estêvão’s Meteoric Rise: The New Star of Brazil

Complicating Neymar’s hopes is the emergence of Estêvão, the teenage sensation whose rapid ascent has electrified fans and pundits alike. Ten months ago, Estêvão was a promising substitute; now, he is a phenomenon. Since earning his first Brazil start in Ancelotti’s debut, he has scored five goals for Chelsea between September and November—including a spectacular weak-footed strike against Barcelona in the Champions League. Analysts describe him as the most brilliant talent to emerge from Brazil since Neymar himself.

The contrast is stark. As Neymar battles injuries and form, Estêvão’s star is rising. Chelsea’s gamble on the youngster appears to be paying off, while European clubs like Manchester United are rumored to be eyeing the “new Neymar” from Santos, Robinho Junior, according to Football365. The narrative is shifting away from Neymar’s redemption toward the promise of a new generation.

Support and Skepticism: Legends Weigh In

Despite the uncertainty, Neymar still finds advocates among Brazil’s football elite. PSG captain Marquinhos recently told RMC, “Always! He’s a great friend, a real talent. It depends on many things—it depends on how he is, if he’s doing well, if he’s in shape, if physically he’s found his rhythm again. I hope he gets back to his best. If he’s back in form physically and feeling good, why not? I really hope he can return to top form and make it to the World Cup.” Casemiro, another veteran, has echoed similar sentiments. Yet even these endorsements are hedged with caution, reflecting the reality that Neymar’s fate now hinges on factors beyond friendship or reputation.

For Santos, the stakes are equally high. If the club is relegated, keeping Neymar may be financially impossible. Rumors already circulate about discontent over his cost versus contribution. Should he depart, finding a new club—and the match fitness needed to impress Ancelotti—will be a race against time.

As 2025 ends, the arc of Neymar’s career feels more uncertain than ever. The twists and turns that once thrilled crowds now seem to haunt him, both physically and emotionally. With Estêvão’s rise and Ancelotti’s uncompromising standards, the World Cup dream that drew Neymar home may be slipping away, replaced by a new generation’s hunger and a veteran’s reckoning.

The evidence paints a picture not of a player out of time, but of a changing era. Neymar’s decline is neither abrupt nor unique—injuries and expectations have claimed many stars. What sets his story apart is the weight of national hope, the emergence of new talent, and the harsh reality that football’s cycles rarely wait for sentiment. Whether Neymar finds a way back will depend not just on recovery, but on his ability to adapt and accept the challenge posed by a team—and a country—in transition.