Neymar has undergone knee surgery following the end of the season after playing through pain to help Santos avoid relegation.
The Brazil international struggled with a knee issue in the final weeks of the campaign but still featured as Santos secured their top-flight status after promotion last year.
Neymar confirmed earlier this month that surgery was required, admitting the closing weeks of the season had been “tough” due to the ongoing knee problem.
Santos have now confirmed the operation was successful, revealing that an arthroscopy was carried out to treat a lesion in Neymar’s medial meniscus.
In a club statement, Santos said the forward is “doing well” and will begin his rehabilitation process immediately under the supervision of his personal physiotherapist.
[ESPN reports] Neymar is expected to miss around a month of action, placing his return in late January or early February.
That recovery timeline could make him available for Santos’ Campeonato Paulista derby against Corinthians on January 22, with matches against Novorizontino, Palmeiras and Guarani scheduled before then.
Neymar’s current contract expires at the end of the month, but Santos president Marcelo Teixeira has said he expects the forward to remain at the club and extend his deal through to the 2026 World Cup.
Teixeira said discussions are ongoing and described Neymar as “decisive” in how he ended the season, both on and off the pitch.
Neymar has openly stated his ambition to play at the 2026 World Cup, but Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has insisted selection will depend purely on fitness and form closer to the tournament.