Neymar has successfully undergone arthroscopic knee surgery, Santos announced on Monday, as the Brazilian winger works to regain full fitness and secure a place in next year’s World Cup squad.

The 33-year-old returned to his boyhood club Santos in January and played a pivotal role in helping them stay in the Brazilian top flight, scoring five goals in their last four matches despite playing through pain.

Santos confirmed that the procedure was carried out by Brazilian national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar. “An arthroscopy was performed to treat a medial meniscus injury. The surgery was a success, and the athlete is doing well,” the club said in a statement.

No official timeline for Neymar’s return was given, though Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte reported he could be back in action within a month.

Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals has not featured for the national team since 2023 due to a series of injuries. In October, national team head coach Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that Neymar must be fully fit to be considered for the squad for the World Cup, set to take place from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Brazil will face Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti in Group C, aiming to add to their record five World Cup titles.