'Tossed By Barcelona': Football Star Neymar Jr Criticised After Missing Out Santos' Semi-Final Against Corinthians

Neymar Jr recently made headlines when he made a return to his boyhood club Santos as he looks to regain his footballing magic and momentum following long strings of injuries and missed out play times. Neymar Jr after spending five seasons at Paris Saint Germain had moved to Saudi club Al-Hilal but managed to only play seven games for the club as he was out with injury the entire time. After his disappointing stint at Al Hilal, Neymar moved to Santos FC in Brazil as he looks to get back in top form ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Now Neymar Jr. has once again been criticised as he sat out Santos FC's semi-final against arch-rivals Corinthians, a match Santos lost 2-1. 

Neymar Comes Under Fire For Sitting Out Semi-Final 

During Santos' match against Corinthians, Neymar did not play in the match but he was on the bench for the full 90 minutes. On Monday, 10th March, Neymar revealed that he had a minor injury which had caused him to sit out the match against Corinthians but did not elaborate further on the nature and extent of the injury. 

Neymar came under fire for this because he was recently seen celebrating and partying in Rio De Janeiro as he celebrated Carnival. Neymar attended the Carnival parade just hours after being substituted during another match for Santos FC. He was taken off due to an apparent thigh injury. 

“All I wanted was to be on the pitch and help my teammates in some way. But last Thursday I felt a discomfort that prevented me from being on the pitch. We took a test this morning and I ended up feeling it again,” said Neymar in an Instagram post. 

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The timeline of these occurrences did not sit right with several football pundits who criticised Neymar for attending the Carnival parade instead of playing in the match. 

Walter Casagrande Jr took to social media as he wrote, “He chose Carnival over the semifinal. Neymar’s behavior of the last five, six years has come back. He switches the professional side for pleasure and fun."

Spanish newspaper Marca also criticised the Brazilian winger. “Neymar’s saddest Carnival after being tossed by Barcelona; on the bench and knocked out,” wrote Marca in their criticism of Neymar Jr. 

Santos Coach Marcelo Texeira On Neymar Missing Game Against Corinthians 

Amidst the heavy criticism that Neymar faces for attending the Carnival parade, Santos FC coach Marcelo Texeira defended his star player as he told local media that the star player was not fit to play in the match against Corinthians and thus had to sit out for the whole 90 minutes. 

“It is a precaution, we understood we shouldn’t play him. It is not about the national team, it is because he had not conditions to play. He is in a process of recovery. We need to understand that,” said Santos FC head coach Marcelo Texeira. 

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Amidst all of the criticism, Santos FC later published a video on their social media platforms which showed Neymar talking to his teammates before the semi-final. 

“It is very hard to be out in moments like this. I am trying to control myself in every way, not show the sadness I am feeling. If you can, run for me. I wish I could be with you, running for each of you. You don’t know how desperate I am in my heart,” said a teary eyed Neymar in the video. 

Neymar has looked in fantastic touch ever since he joined Santos as he has three goals and three assists in seven matches which was enough to get him called back to the Brazilian National Team.