Neymar Criticized for Missing Santos Semifinal Loss

Neymar Jr faced criticism for missing Santos' semifinal match against Corinthians, which they lost 2-1, as he sat on the bench due to a minor injury. His absence was controversial because it followed his participation in Rio de Janeiro's Carnival, sparking accusations from pundits like Walter Casagrande Jr that he prioritized festivities over his professional commitments. Neymar, who recently returned to Santos to revive his career after a stint at Al-Hilal, defended his decision, explaining the discomfort stemmed from a previous match-related thigh issue. Santos coach Pedro Caixinha supported Neymar, stating it was his decision to have Neymar on the bench to manage the discomfort and avoid further injury. Many fans and critics remain skeptical, viewing Neymar's Carnival attendance as a lack of focus on his football career, despite his recent recovery from a significant ACL injury. Neymar now has a brief period to recover before his next commitment with the national team.