Neymar was seen eating feijoada (a traditional Brazilian stew) at a bar in Santos on the evening of 26/4. *Photo: UOL*

Neymar's absence from training on 27/4 sparked concern, as he was expected to prepare for the Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo in Argentina on 29/4. When the 34-year-old star did not appear, Santos summoned his management team for an explanation. The club later issued an official statement, citing health reasons for the forward's absence.

Earlier, despite being rested for round 13 of the Brasileirao national championship to conserve energy, Neymar was photographed by a UOL reporter eating feijoada at a bar in Santos on the evening of 26/4. According to ESPN Brasil journalist Felipe Silva, Santos explained that their superstar contracted a "virus infection" that same evening, after images of him socializing were circulated.

Santos's statement to ESPN Brasil detailed Neymar's condition: "Neymar experienced virus symptoms on the evening of 26/4, has received medication, and is responding well. He is currently being closely monitored by Santos's medical department. Neymar remains on the roster for the trip to Argentina for the Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo. He will join the rest of the squad on 28/4 in Buenos Aires."

In 2026, Neymar has only made 10 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists for Santos. *Photo: Reuters*

The situation intensified as Santos dropped into the national championship's relegation zone after Corinthians defeated Vasco. Corinthians climbed to 14th place with 15 points, pushing Santos down to 17th with 14 points. Mirassol, Remo, and Chapecoense are immediately behind them. In their last 7 matches across all competitions, the Vila Belmiro home team has only secured one win, three losses, and three draws.

Recently, coach Cuca defended Neymar against a wave of criticism from Santos fans and the media. He stated that the star, born in 1992, is not solely responsible for the team's poor performance. Cuca acknowledged Neymar's struggles, saying, "'He is going through a turbulent period with the team and clearly feels it. The results are terrible, but the performances are not necessarily so. In football, only the final result counts. We cannot place all the blame on Neymar. Responsibility needs to be shared, and as head coach, I will take a larger portion.'"

Neymar arrived at the hotel in Buenos Aires to join Santos on 28/2.

Regarding the decision to rest Neymar for the 2-2 draw against Bahia, Cuca affirmed that his player was somewhat fatigued due to the dense match schedule. The 62-year-old coach explained, "'Neymar is still performing well in acceleration and high-speed running metrics. No one can maintain that intensity indefinitely, not to mention the psychological pressure. We have no time to rest, so he will not play to ensure optimal physical condition for the decisive match in Argentina.'"

Neymar is gradually losing hope of joining the Brazil national team for the World Cup 2026. A persistent knee injury has limited his contributions in 2026, resulting in only 10 appearances, 4 goals, and 3 assists for Santos.

Compiled by Ha Phuong