Neymar Makes Friends Experience Same Excruciating Treatment He Receives on Knee

Neymar wanted some of his friends to experience what it is like to go through knee rehabilitation, a process that involves a number of eye-watering treatments.

The 33-year-old, who has previously considered retirement because of injury problems, played through a significant amount of pain towards the end of the season to help Santos secure survival.

Despite suffering a tear in the meniscus of his left knee, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward defied doctors' orders to score five goals in their remaining four matches.

Neymar has since undergone successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and recently started the recovery process after undergoing a minor procedure in December.

The forward returned to Santos' training ground last week, where he was seen performing exercises to strengthen the knee. Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte suggest his recovery will take up to a month.

As he continues his fitness journey ahead of this summer's World Cup, Neymar decided to give his friends a taste of the painful road to recovery.

In total, four members of his friendship group got to experience the treatments, with all of them wincing in pain as the tool worked away at their knees.

It was a telling insight into the rehabilitation process, with many fans commenting on the now-viral clip.

One said: "Rehab is not a joke especially for professional athletes," and a second commented: "I bet they respect him more now."

A third wrote: "Neymar has one of the strongest mentalities man," and a fourth added: "The way they are feeling the pain even though they ain't injured."

Neymar memorably tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee in October 2023 while on international duty with Brazil. He has faced almost constant fitness battles since, and came close to retiring following his recent injury.

Neymar's father reveals how close his son came to retiring

Speaking in an interview with Rafa Tecla T - Experiências reais, Neymar's father and agent gave an insight into his son's latest issues with injury.

Neymar da Silva Santos senior began: "He got a meniscus injury, the press leaks it before we talk to him, and his head goes blank. It's so much to take in ... I go to my son's house. 'So, how are you?'

"He turns to me and says, 'I can't take it anymore. Let's operate. Dad ... I don't even know if it's worth operating. As for me, I've had enough.'"

"I said, 'Son, if you want to have surgery so we can focus on your recovery and you get well, I'm with you'. The next morning he started training, kicking left, right ... Then he looked, shook his head, 'I think I can do it'. He went to the game and scored the goal."

The 60-year-old added: "When he scored, he looked at me and said that he was going to the end."