Softfootball gathered that Neymar has once again missed a match on March 11, the birthday of his sister Rafaella Santos, fueling renewed debate among football fans.
The Brazilian forward was absent when Santos played out a 2–2 draw against Mirassol Futebol Clube in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Neymar had earlier been included in the preliminary squad list for the Brazil national football team ahead of their final friendly matches before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, Santos confirmed that the player was rested for the match. The timing of the absence has once again drawn attention from fans, as this marks the 11th time in the past 12 years that Neymar has missed a match on or around March 11.
While there has never been official confirmation that the absence is intentional, the recurring coincidence has continued to spark speculation online.
Neymar and Rafaella are known to share a very close bond. The footballer has Rafaella’s face tattooed on his arm, while Rafaella has Neymar’s eyes tattooed on her back, highlighting the strong relationship between the siblings.
Amid growing discussion on social media, Neymar addressed the speculation directly, rejecting claims that he deliberately avoids matches during this period. He said;
There are a lot of people creating theories about what’s happening to me. It’s fine.
If I play injured, I’m wrong. If I take care of my health, I’m wrong. If I play in pain, I’m wrong. It’s very difficult to get it right.
What surprises me most is those people who seem to be with me every day and start making up stories.
Despite the speculation, there is no official evidence suggesting the player intentionally misses matches around his sister’s birthday. Still, the unusual pattern continues to attract attention from fansand pundits whenever the date arrives.
