Neymar Criticizes Atletico Mineiro Pitch After Ankle Sprain

During Santos 1-1 draw against Atlético Mineiro, Neymar suffered a left ankle sprain early in the match after his foot caught in the synthetic turf. Though he continued playing, he voiced frustration post-game, calling synthetic pitches crap on Instagram. His stance aligns with fellow stars Memphis Depay, Lucas Moura, Thiago Silva, and Philippe Coutinho, who have also criticized artificial surfaces.

When the Brazilian star Neymar returned to action for Santos in their 1-1 draw against Atlético Mineiro, his night was overshadowed by an ankle injury that sparked fresh debate about synthetic pitches in Brazil. The forward twisted his left ankle in the opening moments of the match as his foot caught awkwardly on the artificial surface while dribbling. Although he received immediate medical attention and continued playing, Neymar was visibly frustrated by the incident.

After the game, he vented his anger on Instagram, writing that “synthetic turf is crap,” echoing the concerns of several other top Brazilian players including Memphis Depay, Lucas Moura, Thiago Silva, and Philippe Coutinho. Neymar’s complaint is not new, as many stars have criticized how such surfaces affect tempo, rhythm, and even the integrity of the game itself.

Despite Santos securing a point away from home, Neymar’s injury and strong comments quickly grabbed headlines, with clips and posts widely shared on social media. While the injury was not serious, the episode once again highlighted the ongoing tension between clubs, players, and league authorities over the use of synthetic pitches in Brazil’s top competitions.