Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19, his club Santos FC confirmed on Saturday, marking the second time the forward has contracted the virus.

According to an official club statement, Neymar began showing symptoms on Thursday (June 5) and was immediately withdrawn from all team activities. 

“Following medical evaluation and subsequent laboratory testing, the presence of COVID-19 was confirmed,” said the club.

The 33-year-old is currently resting at home under medical supervision and receiving symptomatic treatment as per health protocols, the statement added.

This is the second COVID-19 infection for Neymar, who first tested positive in May 2021 during his stint with Paris Saint-Germain. He had returned to action nearly four months later, describing himself as "super happy" to be back on the pitch.

Neymar returned to his boyhood club Santos in 2023 after an underwhelming end to his European career. His form has been inconsistent since, compounded by a series of injuries that have kept him out of action for Brazil’s national team.

The last time he wore the Brazil jersey was in October 2023, when he was stretchered off during a World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay, which ended in a 2–0 defeat. 

Since then, he has missed the Copa America 2024 and was left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for Brazil’s ongoing qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.

Source: Agencies

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