"The answer is that his comeback -- so far at least -- is not going to plan. It was on Oct. 12, 2023 that he had a serious left knee injury playing for Brazil against Uruguay in the early rounds of World Cup qualification. The subsequent two years have brought no evidence that the 33-year-old is still capable of tipping the balance at the highest level."
"Immediate expectations were almost certainly too high. He was greeted as a savior at the start of the year when he moved back to Santos, a famous old name that have fallen on hard times. Some imagined that the acquisition of Neymar would be sufficient to transform a newly promoted club into trophy challengers. Instead, Santos hover just above the relegation zone. And when he has been on the field, Neymar has yet to stand out."
"There have been flashes of quality, such as striking a dead ball or slipping through a cunning pass. But he is not gliding past opponents as he once did with such flourish. After such a long time out of action, muscular problems were inevitable. But Neymar has run into a series of other injury problems. There are hopes that he might be back at the start of next month, which leaves very little time to prove himself before November's FIFA dates."
Carlo Ancelotti omitted any reference to Neymar when naming the Brazil squad, reflecting concern over Neymar's stalled comeback. Neymar suffered a serious left knee injury on Oct. 12, 2023, and two years later shows no clear evidence of returning to match-winning form. A high-profile return to Santos failed to transform the club; Santos hover above the relegation zone and Neymar has rarely stood out. He has produced occasional quality moments but lacks his former dribbling dominance and has suffered muscular and other injury setbacks. A hoped return next month leaves minimal time to impact November internationals and March before 2026 squad decisions.
Read at ESPN.com
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