Neymar erupts as chaos overshadows Brazil's World Cup push

Neymar was at the centre of a dramatic confrontation with match officials after Santos claimed the forward had been wrongly substituted during their humiliating 3-0 defeat to Coritiba.

The incident came at the worst possible moment for the 34-year-old, who was hoping to impress ahead of Carlo Ancelotti naming Brazil's World Cup squad.

Neymar was replaced in the 65th minute after temporarily leaving the pitch to receive treatment on a calf problem. However, confusion erupted when the fourth official raised the No. 10 board, even though it appeared Gonzalo Escobar had actually been the player Santos intended to substitute.

The Brazilian star reacted furiously after attempting to re-enter the pitch, earning a yellow card before snatching the substitution slip from officials and holding it up to television cameras in an attempt to prove the mistake.

Eventually, Neymar left the field and handed the captain's armband to Escobar, but the controversy only intensified afterwards.

"The fourth official got the substitution wrong," Santos said in a statement on social media. "This was confirmed by the television coverage and by the note used by the officials during the substitution. An inexplicable error that was not corrected."

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The chaotic evening only added to concerns surrounding Neymar's physical condition ahead of the World Cup. Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 international goals has not represented his country since 2023 due to persistent injury problems.

Still, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward recently extended his contract with Santos until the end of 2026 as he attempts to secure a place in Brazil's World Cup squad.

The Selecao begin their campaign against Morocco on June 13 before facing Haiti and Scotland in the group stage of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.