Neymar faced criticism for skipping a semifinal with Santos after being spotted at Carnival last week.
On Sunday, Santos were defeated 2-1 by their long-time rivals Corinthians in the semifinals of the Sao Paulo state championship, with Neymar remaining on the bench for the entire match. The following day, he stated he had a minor injury but did not provide further details.
A few days prior, the striker was photographed at Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, the iconic venue for the lavish Carnival parade.
Having rejoined his childhood club Santos in January, Neymar attended the Carnival parade just hours after being substituted in the second half of another Sao Paulo state championship match on March 2 due to what appeared to be a left thigh injury.
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He had only recently recovered from an ACL tear that had kept him sidelined for over a year.
Santos did not disclose any injury concerns regarding Neymar ahead of Sunday’s semifinal.
“All I wanted was to be on the pitch and support my teammates in any way possible,” Neymar posted on Instagram. “But last Thursday, I experienced discomfort that kept me from playing. We conducted a test this morning, and I felt it again.”
Santos coach Pedro Caixinha explained that, despite the injury, he asked Neymar to stay on the bench.
“It was only discomfort, but it prevented him from playing. I requested that he remain with the squad, and he agreed,” Caixinha said at a press conference following his team’s elimination. “He’s a unique player, gifted and full of positive energy. Neymar suffered a lot from not being able to participate in the match.”
However, many pundits accused Neymar of not prioritising his career as he attempts to revive it at the Brazilian club following stints at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Al-Hilal.
“He chose Carnival over the semifinal,” remarked well-known pundit Walter Casagrande Jr. on his social media platforms. “Neymar’s behaviour over the past five or six years has resurfaced. He keeps prioritising pleasure and entertainment over professionalism.”
Santos president Marcelo Teixeira told local media that Neymar underwent multiple examinations between Friday and Sunday, all confirming he was unfit to play against Corinthians.
“As a precaution, we decided not to field him,” Teixeira stated. “This isn’t about the national team; he simply wasn’t in the right condition to play. He is still in the recovery process, and we must acknowledge that.”
Spanish newspaper Marca described Neymar’s week as “his saddest Carnival yet—discarded by Barcelona, left on the bench, and eliminated.”
In response to the intense criticism surrounding their star player, Santos later released a video showing an emotional Neymar addressing his teammates in the dressing room before the semifinal.
“It is incredibly difficult to be sidelined at moments like this. I am doing my best to stay composed and not show how much sadness I feel,” Neymar said. “If you can, run for me. I wish I could be out there, running for each of you. You have no idea how desperate I feel inside.”
Since his return, the 33-year-old forward has scored three goals and provided three assists in seven matches for Santos. His performances were enough to convince Brazil coach Dorival Jr. to recall him for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
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Neymar is expected to return to action for Santos on March 29, following the international break, in the opening round of the Brazilian league against Vasco da Gama. Santos earned promotion back to the top tier after being relegated in 2023.