When will Neymar return for Santos after thigh injury?

Neymar continues to recover from a thigh ailment.

Neymar’s injury led him to drop out of Brazil’s national team roster earlier this month, disappointing Brazilian soccer fans. Brazil’s humiliating 4-1 loss to Argentina in the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers could have turned out differently with the inclusion of the Seleção’s talisman player.

The 33-year-old’s withdrawal from the national team had become a hot topic of conversation. Brazilian supporters are still excited for him to return to the club level.

The 33-year-old was set to guide Santos in their eagerly awaited return to Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A after rejoining the team from Al-Hilal in January. However, the player suffered an injury in the quarter-final and missed the semi-final. Santos lost in the last four of the competition.

When will Neymar return for Santos from a thigh injury?

Neymar won’t play in Santos’ inaugural match against Vasco da Gama this weekend, despite the hype surrounding his formal league return.

The veteran forward’s competitive bow for the Peixe may have to wait since he hasn’t fully recovered from a thigh injury, according to TNT Sports Brazil.

🔥 pic.twitter.com/Ijix9qCZht

— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) March 21, 2025

Fans of Santos, who had wanted to see their hometown hero guide the team on its comeback to the top division of Brazilian soccer, are devastated by the news.

Although Neymar is not fit yet to play in the match against Vasco da Gama, Santos’ head coach and medical team have maintained their optimism that he would recover in time.

The attacking midfielder, who has suffered from ailments in previous seasons and hasn’t played for Brazil since September 2024, is still going through a hard time after this latest setback.

After a difficult stint at Al-Hilal, Neymar’s return to Santos, the team where he became a household name, was viewed as a new beginning. Both Santos supporters and Brazilian soccer fans were thrilled by his decision to come home after he played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in Europe’s top divisions for years.

His much-anticipated return has hit a setback, though. Santos’ upcoming league game against Bahia on April 4 is now considered a possible return date for Neymar. By then, the team hopes Neymar will be fully recovered and return to action seamlessly.

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