Why Won’t Neymar Play for Santos Against Macará? Here’s the Reason for His Absence in the Copa Sudamericana This Thursday

Neymar will not travel to Ecuador to face Macará with Santos. The ’10’ was left out of the squad for the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 second leg, with his absence stemming from a strategic decision by the club.

Neymar Will Not Play for Santos Against Macará

Neymar’s absence from Santos vs. Macará in the second leg of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana Round of 16 has been confirmed, but the big question is: why won’t the Brazilian ’10’ play?

Santos released the list of players available for the trip to Ecuador, and Neymar is not among the squad. The forward will not travel to Ambato, meaning he will miss a match in which the Brazilian side will look to defend the 2-1 lead earned at Vila Belmiro.

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The Peixe’s Strategic Decision

All indications are that Santos opted to preserve Neymar, particularly because of the conditions the team will face in Ecuador and the delicate situation the club is dealing with in the Brasileirão.

The situation is significant for the São Paulo side. Santos sits just two points above the relegation zone in the Brazilian league and has an important match against Mirassol coming up on Sunday. With that game on the horizon, Cuca decided to manage the minutes of some of his key players.

One of the factors surrounding Neymar’s absence is the environment Santos will encounter in Ambato. The match will be played at approximately 2,600 meters above sea level, a condition that can represent additional physical demands for any player.

In Neymar’s case, after dealing with various physical issues in recent years, avoiding unnecessary strain is part of Santos’ strategy to manage his recovery and availability.

Santos Will Also Be Without Gabigol

Neymar will not be the only major absence for Santos. Gabigol, who scored in the first leg against Macará, will also not travel to Ecuador.

The Brazilian forward was another player preserved by the coaching staff, leaving the São Paulo side without its two main attacking stars for a tie that remains wide open.

Santos will, however, have another attacking option available, with Moisés returning to the squad after recovering from an injury.

Can Santos Advance Without Neymar?

The 2-1 lead gives Santos some breathing room heading into the second leg. Still, the Brazilian side needs to win or draw to advance directly to the quarterfinals.

Macará, meanwhile, must win by two or more goals to advance without a penalty shootout. If the Ecuadorians win by one goal, the tie will be decided from the penalty spot.

Santos’ challenge will be proving that it can protect an important lead without relying exclusively on Neymar and Gabigol. This season’s numbers suggest it will not be easy: in the eight matches played without both stars, the team has recorded just one win, four losses and three draws.