Santos’ return to Brazil’s top flight was meant to be a triumphant homecoming, led by the club’s greatest modern icon, Neymar. But just weeks before his official top-flight return at Vila Belmiro, the Brazilian superstar has found himself battling yet another injury setback.
Santos’ return to Brazil’s top flight was meant to be a triumphant homecoming, led by the club’s greatest modern icon, Neymar. But just weeks before his official top-flight return at Vila Belmiro, the Brazilian superstar has found himself battling yet another injury setback.
While Santos struggles on the pitch without him, Neymar has been working relentlessly to regain fitness. On Monday, he offered an update on his recovery, sharing a glimpse of his intense rehabilitation sessions in the gym. However, it was not just the images that caught attention—it was the powerful three-word message he posted alongside them.
The experienced star’s return to Santos in February was a storybook moment, a chance for the club and player to rebuild together after difficult years apart. Santos, fresh from securing promotion back to the Brazilian Serie A, saw Neymar’s signing as the spark that could propel them back to glory.
But the start of their campaign has not gone according to plan. In their opening match of the 2025 Brasileirão, the away side took the lead against Vasco da Gama but ultimately fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat. The absence of their talismanic forward was felt deeply.
What did Neymar say?
While the Peixe look for answers on the pitch, Neymar is doing everything possible to make his return sooner rather than later. The Brazilian forward, who has been dealing with a muscle injury in recent weeks, posted a series of photos on Instagram of himself pushing through intense rehabilitation workouts.
The images showed the 33-year-old working on gym machines with fierce focus, while his young daughter, Mavi, watched from the sidelines. One particularly touching moment captured Neymar holding and kissing his daughter, a reminder that despite the pressures of soccer, his family remains his biggest source of strength.
Accompanying the images was a simple but powerful three-word message: “Don’t give up.”
Santos’ careful approach to his recovery
Neymar’s injury history over the past two years has been concerning. His move to Al-Hilal in 2023 turned into a nightmare, as a series of injuries kept him sidelined for much of his time in Saudi Arabia. Many feared that his return to his homeland might follow the same pattern.
However, the club is taking extra precautions this time. They have implemented a specific training and recovery plan designed to strengthen Neymar’s body and reduce the risk of future injuries. Santos is determined to have him fully fit for the long haul, rather than rushing him back too soon.
There is still no confirmed date for the Brazilian superstar’s return to the field, but reports suggest that he could be targeting Santos’ home match against Bahia on April 7. If he does make it back in time, it would be a huge boost for a squad in desperate need of inspiration.
