Brazilian forward Neymar launched a furious attack on the Santos stadium groundskeeper after picking up a thigh injury during the club’s elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Palmeiras. Following a goalless draw in the quarterfinal second leg at Vila Belmiro that saw Palmeiras advance three nil on aggregate, Neymar took to social media to voice his anger over the terrible playing surface in September 2026.
The 34-year-old star started the match but was forced off at half time after clutching his right thigh in the 43rd minute.
Santos players struggled throughout the opening 45 minutes on a surface that had undergone turf decompaction just one day before kickoff, leaving the pitch uneven, fragile, and full of visible holes.
Furious Instagram Rant: What Neymar Said About Vila Belmiro Turf
Taking to his official Instagram account after the match, Neymar sarcastically congratulated the stadium maintenance staff for putting player safety at risk.
The Brazilian international pointed out that running and braking on the patchy turf caused multiple physical problems for the home team during the first half.
Neymar wrote: “Yesterday was the worst pitch Vila has ever had, full of holes because they did the decompaction the day before the match. Unbelievable!”
He added in a follow-up message: “Besides playing against our opponent, we also played against the field. And on top of that, we have to push harder just to start and stop while running because the ground is uneven. It is not for nothing that three players felt discomfort in the first half. Bravo, huh. Excellent shitty work.”
Coach Cuca Confirms Thigh Injury Ahead Of League Fixtures
Santos head coach Cuca confirmed that Neymar underwent medical evaluations on Thursday to assess the full extent of the muscular damage.
Cuca admitted that the forward is unlikely to feature in the Sunday league match against Internacional, while his availability for the upcoming Copa Sudamericana quarterfinal against Atletico Mineiro remains in serious doubt.
The quarterfinal exit completes a disappointing week for Santos, who failed to overturn their first-leg deficit in front of their home fans.
Neymar’s public outburst highlights growing frustration within the squad, with the veteran forward making it clear that poor pitch preparation directly contributed to their cup exit and his latest injury setback.
