Will Neymar Jr. play for Santos against Universidad Central in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana Cup?

The Brazilian star represented Brazil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and now his club faces the Venezuelan side for a spot in the tournament’s Round of 16.

Santos de Brazil will face a major test this Tuesday, July 21, when they travel to Venezuela to take on Universidad Central in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana, but the Brazilian club will be without its biggest star: Neymar.

Don’t miss Universidad Central vs. Santos live on beIN SPORTS

Why won’t Neymar play?

The Brazilian superstar was not included in the squad for Santos’ Copa Sudamericana 2026 playoff first leg against Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) after head coach Cuca decided to protect the veteran forward and give him more time to complete his physical recovery.

Neymar has already returned to team training following his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he is still not ready to return to official competition.

According to reports from Brazilian and Argentine media, Santos’ coaching staff believes Neymar needs a longer preparation period before returning to high-intensity matches. As a result, his comeback with the Peixe will have to wait.

Neymar has not played an official match for Santos since May 24, 2026, when he started in a 1-0 defeat against Internacional in the Brasileirão.

Neymar is not Santos’ only absence

Neymar’s absence will not be Santos’ only concern ahead of the international clash. The Alvinegro will also be without Gabigol, who was rested to avoid physical overload during a demanding schedule.

Santos enter the match after a 2-1 defeat against Botafogo in the Brasileirão, a game in which Neymar was also unavailable. The São Paulo side needs a stronger performance and a positive result in Venezuela to improve its chances of reaching the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16.

In addition to Neymar and Gabigol, Santos’ injury list includes several other players. João Schmidt remains in the final stages of his recovery and has not yet received medical clearance, while Willian Arão is sidelined with a rib injury.

Igor Vinícius is recovering from tendinitis, Gustavo Henrique remains out with a right hamstring tear, and Moisés continues his recovery from discomfort in his right ankle.

Santos vs. Universidad Central live on beIN SPORTS

The match against Universidad Central de Venezuela will be an important test for Santos in their international campaign. The first leg of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana playoff round will be played on Tuesday, July 21, at 8:20 p.m. ET / 5:20 p.m. PT.

Fans can watch the match live and exclusively on beIN SPORTS USA.

The return leg is scheduled for July 28 in Brazil, where Santos will look to close out the series at home and advance in a competition that is one of the club’s main objectives this season.

While supporters wait to see Neymar back on the pitch, the Brazilian star’s return date remains unclear. Santos are taking a cautious approach to his comeback, hoping the forward can return at full strength and once again become a key player for the team.