Neymar Jr. has turned one of the darkest moments of his career into an unexpectedly viral moment. The star of Brazil has recently provided the fans with the footage of his knee rehabilitation giving them a rare opportunity to see the physically exhausting treatment sessions that he undergoes after his left knee surgery.
The video presents to the audience Neymar undergoing a rigorous physiotherapy process, which literally puts pain into test. He fancifully asks his friends to receive the same treatment. Their responses are not only quick and dramatic, but also characterized by violent screams and discomfort, which highlights the harshness of the experience that Neymar has to go through day after day.
Although the intent of the video is rather lighthearted, the situation is not. Neymar is injured, but the injury occurred towards the end of November when he was diagnosed with a meniscus problem. Instead of taking a direct surgery, he decided to stay with Santos at a critical time of the year and the survival of the club was more important as opposed to his physical well-being.
That gamble paid off. Neymar was also a leader in the relegation fight, as the player continued to play despite suffering. His experience and influence proved to be focal to Santos when he was struggling to stay afloat when margins were narrow and high pressure was on.
His influence was obviously statistical. At the end of the year, Neymar had played 28 matches, and he has achieved 11 goals and four assists. His presence was more than just a set of figures and it gave the team a sense of stability and confidence as they struggled to stay in the game. Santos not only escaped the relegation but also qualified in the Copa Sudamericana.
After these goals were accomplished, Neymar was finally able to get surgery and start a lengthy process of recovery. The viral rehab video can be amusing to spectators, but it also makes clear the discipline, pain and toughness it takes to get back to elite football after being injured.
