Neymar exits in tears after fresh injury setback with Santos

Neymar’s highly anticipated first start back in the Brazilian Championship proved short-lived, as the Brazil star was forced to leave Santos’ 2-0 win over Atlético-MG on Wednesday after just 34 minutes due to a left thigh injury.

Wearing a special No. 100 jersey to commemorate his 100th appearance at Vila Belmiro, Neymar began the match with both legs visibly strapped.

It was not long before he began to display signs of discomfort in his left thigh, the same area where he had suffered an injury in a Campeonato Paulista match that sidelined him for six weeks.

The 33-year-old had only returned from injury as a substitute against Fluminense on Sunday.

Shortly after Santos extended their lead with a second goal, the forward gestured towards the bench, requesting a substitution. He then sunk down on the field and required assistance as he exited the pitch.

An emotional Neymar was consoled by teammates and opposition players, including former Brazil teammate Hulk. Once on the bench, he immediately began receiving treatment, with an ice pack applied to his injured thigh.

“It’s still too early, we don’t have a diagnosis. That will be done tomorrow,” Santos interim head coach César Sampaio told reporters.

“It’s a very important loss … We have to pray that it’s not something that will cause him to be absent for a long time.”

Neymar’s left-thigh injury had led him to miss out on Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina last month.

Brazil have been without their star since October 2023, when he tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee.

He had been named in Brazil’s squad for the March qualifiers after returning to fitness following a move to boyhood club Santos in the January transfer window.

Information from ESPN’s Adriana Garcia contributed to this report