Santos was playing its last game of the season and was threatened with relegation for the second time in its history, after its first relegation in 2023.
Neymar, 33, returned to his boyhood club Santos last January after a stint with Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal and has been instrumental in keeping his team in the Brazilian top flight after scoring 5 goals in the last 4 games.
Neymar will undergo knee surgery after playing through the pain to help Santos avoid relegation from the Brazilian league, further casting doubt on the winger's chances of participating in next year's World Cup.
Neymar, who has only played in 20 of 38 league games, said: "I came for this to try and help in the best way possible. These have been difficult weeks for me. I thank those who were with me to lift my spirits. Without them, I wouldn't have played these games because of these injuries and the knee problem. I need rest, and then I will have knee surgery."
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player did not provide any details about the surgery or the expected timeline for his recovery.
Neymar has not played for the Brazilian national team for two years due to a series of injuries.
