Neymar’s Inspiring Journey: Overcoming His Serious Left Knee Injury in [Year]

Exactly one year ago, Neymar left the pitch at the Centenario Stadium, in Montevideo, on a stretcher and in tears after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus in his left knee in the match against Uruguay, in the World Cup qualifiers — Brazil lost 2 to 0. Off the field since then, it is not possible to say, however, that the striker from Al Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, took a sabbatical and was ostracized. During his recovery from surgery — which is in its final phase — the Brazilian was involved in controversies, threw parties, acknowledged paternity and even rekindled his relationship with Bruna Biancardi, mother of Mavie, who recently turned one.

The injury didn’t put an end to Neymar’s end-of-year plans. With authorization from the Saudi club, he underwent surgery in November 2023 in a hospital in Belo Horizonte, and spent the first months of recovery in Brazil. Just over 50 days after the surgery, the player received his guests for the first edition of the cruise “Ney em Alto Mar”, which left Santos heading for Rio de Janeiro, and was attended by celebrities, such as Negrete, Belo, Gracyanne Barbosa, the couple Zé Felipe and Virgínia Fonseca, Sílvia Abravanel, Deolane Bezerra and MC Pipokinha.

DJ at sister’s birthday

The host, however, made a point of showing that he did not leave his recovery aside. On his social networks, he published a photo of him undergoing knee treatment in the ship’s cabin. “Treatment on the go, okay?”, he posted on Instagram last December.

Days later, Neymar was already at his home in Mangaratiba, in the Costa Verde region, in Rio de Janeiro, to welcome his closest friends and family at the New Year’s Eve party that lasted more than 48 hours. The main attraction was the band Jeito Muleque, chosen by the star to liven up the last night at the mansion.

The house in Mangaratiba was even the target of Rio’s courts due to the construction of an artificial lake. In mid-2023, Neymar was fined R$16 million due to works on the mansion located in the AeroRural Condominium. But, in April, the player received good news: the fine imposed was suspended, as the magistrate understood that he did not need an environmental license to carry out the construction.

Still at the beginning of his recovery, Neymar was present at Romário’s 58th birthday celebrations, in January, and played DJ at his sister Rafaella’s birthday, in March, at a party house in Barra da Tijuca.

Between one celebration and another, Neymar’s return to Saudi Arabia was surrounded by controversy due to some photos and videos in which the player was apparently out of shape. Upon arrival at the club, his crumpled and swollen face caught attention on social media. In the first training session after his return, another image also appeared on the networks. In it, the player appears with a “protruding tummy”, which became the subject of memes and jokes by Brazilians and foreigners.

His physical shape had already been the subject of jokes and concern when he appeared alongside Romário, in January of this year. At the time, the Spanish newspapers Marca and As shared the images circulating on social media and stated that “Neymar’s physical change during the injury is worrying.”

Over the last year, the star’s family life has gained even more prominence. Away from the field, Neymar took advantage of the time without traveling and playing commitments to monitor Mavie’s growth. The girl, the result of his relationship with Bruna Biancardi, was born ten days before the player suffered the injury. During treatment, he has been posting the girl’s development on his social media. From the first steps, months ago, to the first words spoken recently: “dad” and “mummy”.

Mavie was also responsible for the couple’s rapprochement. Separated before the child was born, after information about the player’s betrayal when Bruna was pregnant was leaked, they have been appearing together in recent months. In July, for example, the three visited Al Hilal’s CT together and also appeared in intimate moments on other occasions, such as at Thiaguinho’s show, in São Paulo. Last month, the couple and their child spent a few days in Dubai; and, a few weeks ago, they celebrated their daughter’s first birthday at a resort in Saudi Arabia. Three days ago, Neymar published a photo of the couple kissing before a boxing event in the country with the caption: “Rolezin”.

But it wasn’t just Mavie who entered Neymar’s life last year. In July, he recognized the paternity of Helena, his third daughter. The girl is the result of the player’s relationship with model and influencer Amanda Kimberly.

There is yet another case involving Neymar. In August, he carried out a DNA test to confirm the paternity of a 10-year-old girl, who was believed to be from an alleged affair with the Hungarian model, Gabriella Gaspar. The player would have gotten involved with Gabriella in 2013, when the Brazilian team played in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

At the time, the athlete’s advisor confirmed that “the paternity investigation process is being carried out in secret and there is an impediment to providing any information”. In addition to Mavie and Helena, Neymar is also the father of Davi Lucca, 12, with Carol Dantas.