SAO PAULO — Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr will sit out Santos FC’s key showdown against Palmeiras tonight despite completing full 90 minutes and bagging an assist in the previous match against Mirassol.
Although head coach Cuca included the 34-year-old in the squad, internal reports confirm that Neymar declined to feature at Nubank Parque. The primary reason for his decision is the stadium’s artificial grass surface, which the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain attacker strongly believes increases the risk of severe injuries.
Long-Standing Stance on Artificial Grass
Neymar’s opposition to synthetic turf is far from new. Having suffered multiple career-threatening ankle injuries, the forward has consistently voiced his disdain for non-natural grass. Since returning to Brazilian football in 2025, Neymar has appeared on artificial surfaces just once.
When questioned about his availability earlier this week, Neymar was hesitant, emphasizing his caution:
”Are you already thinking about that? Calm down, there’s a game on Sunday. I don’t know [if I’ll play on synthetic turf].”
Despite efforts from Santos’ coaching staff to reassure and persuade him, Neymar prioritized long-term fitness and opted out of tonight’s fixture.
