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By MICHAEL PAVITT Published: 23: 51 AEDT, 10 March 2025 | Updated: 02: 56 AEDT, 11 March 2025 14 View comments Neymar has poured fuel onto one of football's biggest conspiracy theories after missing Santos' latest match with an injury prior to his sister's birthday. Football fans have previously kept track of the weird coincidence during the striker's career. The coincidence has seen Neymar either be injured or suspended around his sister Rafaella Santos' birthday on March 11. Neymar remained on the bench throughout Santos' 2-1 defeat to Corinthians in the Campeonato Paulista on Sunday night. The Brazilian forward took to social media to explain his absence was due to 'discomfort', having been forced off against Red Bull Bragantino last week. 'All I wanted was to be on the field today and help my teammates in some way. .. but last Thursday I felt discomfort and that prevented me from being on the field today, we did a test this morning and I ended up feeling it again, ' Neymar said. Neymar was on the bench throughout Santos loss to Corinthians on Sunday night Neymar revealed on social media he had missed the match after suffering from 'discomfort' Neymar's absence continued a trend of being injured or suspended near his sister's birthday 'Unfortunately it's part of football. .. it didn't work out today but we'll come back even stronger to fight for our goals! ' His absence came as the forward continues to work back to fitness after a year on the sidelines with an ACL injury. Neymar has played seven times for Santos since rejoining the club where he made his breakthrough, following his ill-hit spell at Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. His absence, though, did continue the strange quirk around his sister's birthday. The trend had for five consecutive seasons from the 2014-15 campaign through to 2020. Neymar broke the run when he featured in PSG's Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund in 2020. The Brazilian missed matches in 2021 and 2023 for PSG after suffering muscle and ankle injuries, but did feature for the French side in a league match in 2022. Neymar had been absent from Al-Hilal's match in 2024 following his devastating ACL injury, which had led to him missing over a year of football. Fans have noticed the strange quirk which has occurred throughout the Brazil star's career Rafaella Santos has a large own social media fanbase with over 5. 9 Instagram followers Santos has been a big supporter of her brother's career and both have tattoos of each other 2015 - Rayo Vallecano (suspended) 2016 - Eibar (suspended) 2017 - Deportivo (muscle injury, one game) 2018 - Metatarsal injury, missed rest of the season 2019 - Foot injury (out for three months) 2021 - Adductor pain, missed 11 matches 2023 - Ankle injury, missed rest of the season 2024 - Knee injury, missed the rest of the season 2025 - Missed Santos' match with 'discomfort' Along with football fans, rival players had previously noted the strange quirk in Neymar's career. Former Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos had joked about the trend when Neymar had been linked to a move to the club during his career. 'I like to play with the best and Neymar is one of them, ' he once claimed, before jokingly adding: 'What we would have to negotiate is his sister's birthday. ' Neymar and his sister are well known for their close relationship and have tattoos of each other on their arms. Neymar has Rafaella's on his right arm, while he appears on her left. Santos manager Pedro Caixinha had been forced to deny another theory around Neymar's absence on Sunday. He denied claims the forward had been rested to help him prepare for Brazil's upcoming World Cup qualifying matches. 'The only thing that we considered was that the player has discomfort, if he has discomfort, I'm not going to risk the player at Santos, ' Caixinha said, according to ESPN. 'I'm not thinking about the Brazilian national team. When a player has discomfort and it could be associated with some risk of injury, I'm not going to take a risk. 'One of the things we have promised is we will do everything we can to ensure that Neymar does not get injured. Discomfort is not an injury. We are not going to make a case where it does not exist, just because he felt discomfort and was not in a position to give his best. Santos manager denied suggestions Neymar was rested ahead of Brazil's upcoming games 'It was my request, and he agreed to be with the group even though he knew he wouldn't be able to play, because he's a different, enlightened player, who has fantastic energy, and he suffered a lot for not being able to participate in the game. ' Neymar, who has 128 caps and a record 79 goals for his country, could make his return for the national team for the first time since suffering his knee injury in October 2023. Brazil will face Colombia on October 20 and Argentina five days later in their latest World Cup qualifying matches.
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