Brazilian football icon Neymar Jr. has once again tested positive for COVID-19, marking his second known bout with the virus.
According to a statement released by his club, Santos FC, the 33-year-old forward is currently receiving medical care after the club’s medical department confirmed the infection through laboratory tests.
The club disclosed that Neymar began showing symptoms of the virus on Thursday, June 5, 2025, prompting immediate testing and medical evaluation.
“With viral condition that started on Thursday, June 5, 2025, Neymar Jr. underwent laboratory tests, after evaluation by the Medical Department of Santos FC, which confirmed infection by Covid-19. He had been away from activities since Thursday, and undergoing symptomatic treatment,” Santos revealed.
This latest diagnosis comes four years after Neymar’s initial encounter with COVID-19 during his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. Despite being Brazil’s top scorer with 79 goals to his name, Neymar’s career has recently been plagued by injury setbacks and a series of missed national team appearances.
The forward has not featured for the Brazilian national team since October 2023, when he was stretchered off during a match against Uruguay. That injury ruled him out of the 2024 Copa America tournament, a key competition for Brazil.
His absence continues, as he was left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s current squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
This recent health concern adds to a growing list of challenges Neymar has faced in recent years, raising further questions about his long-term role in the national team setup and his ongoing recovery at the club level.
What you should know
Neymar has tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time and is undergoing treatment, according to Santos FC. He remains absent from Brazil’s national team, having last played in October 2023, and is not part of the current World Cup qualifiers under Carlo Ancelotti.
