Santos lists Neymar and Robinho Jr for a decisive duel against Recoleta in the South American Championship

Santos announced the list of 24 players listed for the confrontation against Recoleta, from Paraguai, in the group stage of Copa Sul-Americana. The delegation embarks for Pedro Juan Caballero with the presence of Neymar and Robinho Jr, who had a disagreement during Sunday’s activity at CT Rei Pelé. Coach Cuca will have the return of number 10, spared in the last commitment by Campeonato Brasileiro.

The match takes place this Tuesday, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Monumental Río Parapití stadium. Peixe currently occupies the last place of Grupo D and sees the duel as essential for survival in the continental tournament. A victory is essential for the club to maintain a real chance of advancing directly to the round of 16 or securing second place in the group.

Os relacionados do Peixão para o jogo no Paraguai! 📋⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/Me43SfDLdy

— Santos FC (@SantosFC) May 4, 2026

Neymar returns to the starting lineup after preservation in the classic

Neymar’s return is Cuca’s main technical asset to attempt rehabilitation in the competition. The star did not play in the draw against Palmeiras last weekend, a strategy adopted to avoid excessive physical wear and tear. Agora, the player’s focus is divided between Santos’s need for points and his individual preparation for Mundo’s Copa. The expectation is that he will lead the offensive actions on Paraguayan soil.

Mesmo with inclusion in the list, the internal environment has been tested in the last 24 hours. Neymar and the young Robinho Jr. They had a harsh argument during training, which ended with the veteran tripping the boy. The technical committee, however, chose not to apply immediate disciplinary punishments that would involve removal from the match. Ambos traveled normally and should be available for the game.

Desfalques on the sides forces improvisations in the cast

Cuca faces serious problems setting up the defensive system, especially on the wings. Winger Vinícius Lira is out of the 2026 season due to a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The medical department confirmed that the recovery will be long, requiring surgery in the coming days. His Além, Mayke and Rafael Gonzaga were not related for physical reasons, drastically limiting the options for the sector.

The coach will only have Igor Vinícius and Escobar as specialists available for the confrontation. Essa shortage of full-backs may force tactical changes, such as the use of defenders or adapted midfielders if necessary during the 90 minutes. The defense, on the other hand, has experienced names like Lucas Veríssimo and Luan Peres to support the goalkeeper chosen to start the match.

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Situação critical on Grupo D demands immediate victory

Santos’s performance in this edition of Sul-Americana is considered below expectations. With just two points from three games, the São Paulo club is at the bottom of the group. The current Conmebol regulations award only the first place player with a direct place in the round of 16, while the second place player must compete in a playoff against teams from Libertadores.

Para seeks leadership, Peixe needs to beat Recoleta away from home. A new stumble would drastically complicate the club’s mathematics, which will still face other challenges following the calendar. The board and fans see Copa Sul-Americana as a viable path to an international title and the respective financial appreciation of the brand in the South American market.

Lista completes the 24 players listed for the trip

Abaixo, the official list of athletes who are part of the Santos delegation for the game at Paraguai:

• Goleiros: Diógenes, Gabriel Brazão and João Pedro.
• Laterais: Igor Vinícius and Escobar.
• Zagueiros: Lucas Veríssimo, Luan Peres, João Ananias and Adonis Frías.
• Meio-campers: João Schmidt, Zé Rafael, Neymar, Willian Arão, Christian Oliva, Miguelito, Rollheiser and Gabriel Bontempo.
• Atacantes: Robinho Jr., Gabigol, Rony, Thaciano, Moisés, Barreal and Mateus Xavier.

The team will have big names on the bench, such as Gabigol and Rony, reinforcing the firepower for the second half. The midfield also gained strength with the presence of Zé Rafael and Willian Arão, essential for the defensive balance requested by Cuca.

Ausências confirmed and planning for return

Além of problems on the sides, Santos travels with other significant losses in different sectors. Defender Zé Ivaldo and midfielders Gabriel Menino and Tomás Rincón remained at Brasil. Argentine striker Lautaro Díaz was also not called up for this duel, which leaves room for the rise of young players like Miguelito and Gabriel Bontempo in the composition of the reserve bench at Paraguai.

Logistical planning foresees the immediate return of the delegation after the final whistle in Pedro Juan Caballero. The objective is to accelerate the athletes’ recovery for the next round of Campeonato Brasileiro, where the team seeks to climb the leaderboard. The presence of Neymar in the next four games is treated as an absolute priority by the technical committee to guarantee technical stability to the group.