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Neymar, the Brazilian footballing superstar, has been tested positive for COVID-19, revealed his current club Santos FC in their official statement on Saturday, June 7. This is the second-time in his life that Neymar had contracted the virus after testing positive in May 2021 while playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France, and it took him four months to completely recover from the illness before returning to the field for club and country.
Notably, Neymar, the highest goal-scorer for his country with 79 goals, isn’t a part of the Brazilian squad for the World Cup Qualifier matches against Ecuador and Paraguay during the current international window, which was picked by their new manager Carlo Ancelotti. The first of the two matches were completed earlier in the week, and it was a 0-0 draw away from home for Brazil against Ecuador at the Estadio Monumental Banco Pichincha in Santiago.
Neymar remains resting at home and undergoing symptomatic treatment, as determined by a doctor: Santos FC
The last appearance for Neymar in Brazilian colours came in October 2023 before he was ousted for more than a year due to a serious knee injury. After recovering from his injury, the 33-year-old played a few matches for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia before they mutually agreed to terminate their contract, which allowed him to return to his boyhood club Santos in Brazil earlier this year.
In their official statement on Neymar’s current fitness issue, Santos FC wrote, “With a viral condition that began on Thursday (June 5), Neymar Jr. underwent laboratory tests, after evaluation by the Medical Department of Santos FC, which confirmed infection by Covid-19. The player had already been away from activities since Thursday, when he began showing symptoms, and remains resting at home and undergoing symptomatic treatment, as determined by a doctor.”
