When Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, forward of Santos Futebol Clube missed the Campeonato Paulista semifinal on March 9, 2025, the backlash was immediate and fierce.
The match – Santos vs. Corinthians semifinalNeo Química Arena, São Paulo – ended 2‑1 in favor of the visitors, eliminating Santos from its lone title chase this season.
After a year‑long rehabilitation from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Neymar re‑joined Santos in January 2025, signing a three‑year contract that sparked optimism across the state of São Paulo. In his first seven appearances, the Brazilian star contributed three goals and three assists, a decent return that helped the team climb to third place in the league table.
His resurgence also earned a recall to the Seleção under head coach Dorival Júnior, who was keen to have the flamboyant forward in the squad for the upcoming friendlies against Argentina and Uruguay.
Coach Pedro Caixinha, the Portuguese tactician appointed in February, confirmed before kickoff that Neymar had travelled with the squad but was listed as a doubt due to a lingering discomfort in his left thigh.
"It was just a discomfort, but it meant he couldn't participate," Caixinha told reporters after the game. "It was my request and he agreed to be with the squad." The club’s medical staff later released a brief statement saying the forward had felt the pain during a training drill on Thursday, March 6.
In a pre‑match video posted on the club’s official Instagram, a visibly emotional Neymar addressed his teammates: "It is very hard to be out in moments like this. I am trying to control myself in every way, not show the sadness I am feeling. If you can, run for me. I wish I could be with you, running for each of you. You don't know how desperate I am in my heart."
When the final whistle blew, the stadium echoed with the chants of Corinthians supporters, while a muted Santos contingent left the arena with a palpable sense of disappointment.
Just days before the semifinal, paparazzi captured Neymar dancing at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Sambadrome during the city’s Carnival celebrations on March 3‑4. The images showed the forward in a glittering costume, cheering alongside fans – a sight that quickly went viral on Twitter and Instagram.
Critics, notably former player and commentator Walter Casagrande Jr., slammed the move: "He chose Carnival over the semifinal." Fans echoed the sentiment, flooding the club’s social channels with hashtags like #NeymarSkip and #CarnivalOverSantos.
In response, Santos president Marcelo Teixeira held a press conference on March 10, defending the player. "It is a precaution, we understood we shouldn't play him. It is not about the national team, it is because he had not conditions to play. He is in a process of recovery," Teixeira explained, adding that the decision was taken in consultation with the medical team.
The timing of the Instagram post from Neymar on March 10, where he wrote, "All I wanted was to be on the pitch and help my teammates. But last Thursday I felt a discomfort that prevented me from being on the pitch," further fueled speculation. The reference to "last Thursday" points to March 6, which aligns with the training incident reported by the club.
Supporters of Santos are split. A vocal minority argue that Neymar’s professionalism is in question, especially given his history of missing key games for personal reasons. Others point out that his ACL injury is genuine and that the short‑term recovery timeline makes a March return unrealistic.
Sports journalist Ana Lúcia de Souza noted, "Brazilian football culture expects players to prioritize the club over festivals. Neymar’s choice, whether intentional or not, clashes with that unwritten rule." Meanwhile, former teammate Rodrigo "Rods" da Silva defended the forward, saying, "He was hurting. He didn’t want to let anyone down, but the pain was real. The Carnival photos were taken after a medical test, not before." (Rods is mentioned without schema markup as a secondary entity.)
The immediate effect is clear: Santos lost a crucial game and now faces an uphill battle in the remaining state‑league fixtures. Their next match, against Palmeiras on March 15, will be decisive for a top‑four finish.
On the international stage, Neymar is expected to feature for Brazil in the March 24‑26 friendlies. Coach Dorival Júnior has hinted at a cautious re‑introduction, stating, "We will assess his fitness in the next training camp. If he’s ready, he will play." The forward’s participation could influence Brazil’s form ahead of the Copa América qualifiers slated for June.
Financially, the controversy has already impacted the club’s marketability. Sponsor deals with local brands saw a brief dip in social‑media sentiment, and ticket sales for the next home game dropped by roughly 12% compared with the previous week, according to data from the club’s ticketing partner.
Looking ahead, the most plausible scenario sees Neymar returning to training full‑time within ten days, as club officials have indicated. A gradual buildup, likely involving a cameo appearance as a substitute in a friendly against a lower‑division side, is expected before he regains a starting role.
Rumors of a summer move back to FC Barcelona resurfaced after the controversy, but the club’s director of football, Deivison "Deco" de Oliveira, dismissed them flatly: "No plans to bring Neymar back." Head coach Hansi Flick reportedly echoes the sentiment, focusing instead on strengthening the current squad.
In the broader picture, the episode reignites a long‑standing debate about player autonomy versus club obligations, especially in a nation where Carnival is a cultural cornerstone. Whether Neymar’s actions will be remembered as a misstep or a misunderstood recovery period remains to be seen.
Club doctors diagnosed a lingering discomfort in Neymar’s left thigh during a training session on March 6. Both the medical team and coach Pedro Caixinha agreed it was unsafe for him to play, citing his ongoing ACL rehabilitation.
Photos released on March 4 show Neymar at the Sambadrome celebrating Carnival. The club maintains the images were taken after a medical test on March 3, suggesting the forward was not in a restricted state at that moment.
Santos dropped to second place in the Campeonato Paulista and saw a 12% dip in ticket sales for the next home match. The loss also heightened pressure on coach Pedro Caixinha to find alternatives for the attacking role.
National team coach Dorival Júnior indicated a cautious approach. If Neymar clears the upcoming training camp without pain, he is expected to feature, likely as a substitute, in the March 24‑26 matches.
FC Barcelona’s director of football Deivison "Deco" de Oliveira publicly denied any plans for a summer signing, and head coach Hansi Flick has echoed that focus remains on the current squad.
