Neymar has been included in Santos' squad for Thursday's Copa Sudamericana round-of-16 first-leg match against Ecuador's Macará, a fixture that doubles as one of the tournament's biggest draws given the Brazilian forward's uncertain club future. The match kicks off at 5:00 p.m. Ecuador time at Estadio Vila Belmiro in Santos, Brazil, according to El Universo, with Ecuadorian audiences able to watch via DSports or DGO.
The 34-year-old Neymar remains under contract with Santos until December 31, 2026, but his long-term plans are still unclear. El Universo reported that recent rumors have linked him to a potential move to Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club co-owned by David Beckham that has previously been tied to marquee South American talent. For now, though, Neymar is focused on Santos' European continental campaign, and his presence in the squad list for the Macará tie is expected to draw significant attention in both Brazil and Ecuador.
Sanguinetti's Undefeated Macara Arrive With Momentum
Macará reach this stage of the Copa Sudamericana in strong form. The Ecuadorian club finished as the undefeated leader of Group A, a result that allowed them to advance directly to the round of 16 without having to navigate a playoff round. Guillermo Sanguinetti's side also arrives fresh off a domestic win, having beaten Barcelona SC 2-1 last Saturday at Estadio Banco Pichincha, according to El Universo.
That victory keeps Macará in second place in the Ecuadorian Liga Ecuabet standings, though the club still trails leaders Independiente del Valle by a wide margin. Even so, the combination of an unbeaten group-stage run and a confidence-boosting league win gives Macará a genuine sense of momentum heading into Brazil, where they will look to disrupt a Santos side dealing with turbulence on multiple fronts.
Santos Enter Relegation Zone in Brasileirao
Santos' path to the round of 16 was considerably rockier. The Brazilian club had to survive a playoff round just to reach this stage, eliminating Venezuela's Universidad Central to secure their spot against Macará, per El Universo. Domestically, the picture is even more concerning. Santos are coming off a 2-0 home defeat to Athletico Paranaense, a result that has dropped them to 17th place in the Brasileirao standings, inside the relegation zone.
The timing of that domestic slide adds extra weight to the Copa Sudamericana tie. A club fighting to stay in Brazil's top flight now also has to balance those survival efforts with a continental campaign that offers a rare bright spot and a potential source of prestige and revenue if Santos can advance.
Compounding Santos' difficulties, the team will be without several defenders for Thursday's first leg. Lucas Veríssimo, Igor Vinícius, Moisés and Gustavinho are all unavailable, according to El Universo, thinning out a backline that will need to contain a Macará attack arriving with confidence from its unbeaten group stage and recent league win.
Against that backdrop, Neymar's inclusion in the matchday squad takes on added significance. With the club under pressure both in the league and in this new continental tie, having their most recognizable player available and ready to contribute gives Santos a boost that goes beyond the tactical. Neymar remains, as El Universo put it, the club's principal figure, and his participation is likely to shape how much attention the match receives well beyond Brazil and Ecuador.
Peruvian Officiating Crew Named for the Tie
CONMEBOL has assigned an all-Peruvian officiating team to oversee the first leg. Kevin Ortega will serve as the referee, with Michael Orue and Jesus Sanchez as assistant referees, Jordi Espinoza as the fourth official, and Joel Alarcon running the video assistant referee system alongside assistant VAR official Diego Haro, according to El Universo.
The assignment of a fully Peruvian crew, rather than a mixed panel, is typical for CONMEBOL competitions and reflects the confederation's rotation practices for continental fixtures involving clubs from different countries.
Second Leg Set for Ambato
Thursday's match in Santos is only the first half of the tie. The return leg between Macara and Santos is scheduled for Thursday, August 20, also at 5:00 p.m. Ecuador time, at Estadio Bellavista in Ambato, El Universo reported. That match will determine which club advances to the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals, with the aggregate score across both legs deciding the winner.
For Macará, hosting the decisive second leg on home turf in Ambato could prove advantageous, particularly if the team can avoid conceding an away goal in Brazil or even come away with a positive result from Vila Belmiro. For Santos, the priority is straightforward: manage a depleted defense against an in-form opponent, protect Neymar's continued involvement in a campaign that offers the club a rare source of positive momentum, and avoid a setback that would deepen the gloom already surrounding their Brasileirao season.
Whether Neymar remains at Santos beyond this year is a separate question that will play out over the coming months, but for at least one night in Vila Belmiro, the Brazilian star is set to be the central figure in a match that carries far more weight for Santos than a typical continental group-stage fixture would suggest.
