SAO PAULO (AP) – Neymar’s Santos secured their spot in Brazil’s Serie A with a 3-0 win over Cruzeiro on Sunday. The 33-year-old soccer star later confirmed he would undergo surgery on his left knee.
Santos played the last league game of the season. Worldwide fans of the greatest Pele of all time —Avoided relegation for the second time in club history. Santos was relegated for the first time about a year later, in 2023. death of pele.
Neymar struggled to recover from injury torn ACL In October 2023, in a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay. However, he proved to be key for Santos in their successful fight to avoid relegation in the Brazilian Championship after the Brazilian Championship. promotion last year.
neymar who Returned to Santos in Januarywas decisive for the club where he started his professional career. In the final three league matches, Neymar scored in a 3-0 win against Sport Recife, scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Juventud on Wednesday, and was an effective playmaker on Sunday.
Tasiano (26th and 28th) and Joao Schmidt (60th) scored against Cruzeiro at the Vila Belmiro Stadium, as Santos finished 12th with 47 points.
Neymar only appeared in 19 of the 38 league matches that began in April. He scored 8 goals.
Neymar said after the match: “I came for this. I wanted to help in the best way I could. The last few weeks have been difficult for me.” “I’m grateful to the guys who lifted me up with me. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to play in these games because of this injury and my knee problem. I need to rest and then I’m going to have knee surgery.”
Neymar did not provide details about the knee injury and surgery. He still hopes to be included in the final squad for Brazil’s national team. 2026 world cupbut Manager Carlo Ancelotti has yet to choose a former captain. Since taking office in May.
Flamengo won their ninth Brazilian league title with a 1-0 home victory over Ceará in midweek. Rio de Janeiro club too won the Copa Libertadores last month.
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