Neymar's Career Marred by Injuries and Scandal After Peruvian Shamans’ 'Curse'
- Peruvian shamans claimed to have "neutralised" Neymar in 2023 using rituals before a World Cup qualifier, targeting his feet to hinder his performance
- Since the alleged curse, Neymar has missed over 500 days through injury, including an ACL tear and hamstring damage
- Al Hilal terminated his contract early after he played just seven games and scored once following an £86m move
Neymar’s career has unraveled over the past 18 months due to relentless injuries, with bizarre claims emerging that Peruvian shamans “neutralised” the star in a pre-match ritual.
The Brazilian was targeted by Peruvian shamans ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Peru in September 2023.
Source: Getty Images
A viral video showed two spiritualists stamping on posters of the football star and stabbing a small effigy while chanting and pouring unknown substances over his image.
Shaman Felix Rondan claimed:
“We have neutralised Neymar by tying his feet,” explaining they performed the ritual to stop him from performing well. Though Neymar assisted Brazil’s winning goal that night, what followed was a stretch of unrelenting injury setbacks.
Injuries and Al Hilal Nightmare
Neymar’s £86million move to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League quickly turned into a disaster. Just a month in, he tore his ACL during international duty with Brazil, sidelining him for nearly a year.
After a brief return in October 2024, he suffered a severe hamstring injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the year.
By January 2025, Al Hilal terminated his contract six months early, after just seven appearances and one goal, marking one of football’s worst-ever transfer deals.
Source: Getty Images
Return to Santos ends in more heartbreak
In a bid to revive his career, Neymar rejoined his boyhood club Santos, where his professional journey began.
Expectations were high, especially as he marked his 100th appearance at the Vila Belmiro stadium with a commemorative jersey.
In a video shared on social media, the tricky forward pulled off a moment of brilliance and celebrated in style, channeling Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic pose after scoring directly from a corner kick in a 3-0 win over Internacional Limeira.
Since rejoining Santos as a free agent in late January, Neymar has scored twice and provided three assists in six Paulista League appearances.
But tragedy struck again, just 34 minutes into his first league start, Neymar left the pitch in tears after injuring his thigh, adding to a streak of disappointments in his return home.
Scandals off the pitch add to the decline
Neymar’s struggles haven’t been confined to football. Off the field, he has made headlines for the wrong reasons, including allegations of cheating on his pregnant partner, soliciting explicit images from a model, and reports of exploiting domestic staff.
The combination of injuries and personal controversies has plunged the once-iconic star into one of the darkest chapters of his career, leaving fans questioning whether Neymar will ever return to the heights he once enjoyed.
Neymar sheds light on the skill he taught Messi
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Neymar opened up on how he once taught Lionel Messi how to take penalties during their time at Barcelona.
The Brazilian star recounted how Messi sought his advice on spot kicks, which surprised him given the Argentine’s legendary status.
Source: YEN.com.gh
