Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. nearly decided to retire from football following his latest injury, according to his father and agent, Neymar Sr. In a recent interview on a YouTube channel, Neymar Sr. said his son was mentally devastated after suffering a meniscus injury that became public before the family could discuss it. He recalled visiting Neymar, who expressed that he could no longer endure the pain and uncertainty about surgery.

Neymar Sr. added that he encouraged his son to undergo surgery if it would help him recover, assuring full support. The next morning, Neymar resumed light training, regaining confidence and eventually returning to score again. Fans now hope he can return to the field by the end of this month and fight for a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

Neymar, who has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, suffered ACL and meniscus injuries in October 2023. After leaving Saudi club Al Hilal for Santos, he underwent minor knee surgery on December 22 and continues his recovery to regain full fitness.

Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. has renewed his contract with Santos FC for another year, extending his stay with the club until December 31, 2026. The announcement ends speculation that he might leave his boyhood team. According to Brazilian outlet Globo, Neymar will remain with Santos at least until the end of club president Marcelo Teixeira’s term. The new deal marks his third contract since returning to Santos, following two six-month agreements in 2025.

Under the new terms, Neymar will earn a salary comparable to several average players at the club. In addition to his playing contract, Santos has a separate image rights agreement with NR Sports, a company owned by Neymar’s family, valued at 85 million Brazilian reals to be paid by the end of next year. Neymar is currently recovering from meniscus surgery on his left knee, with a return to the field expected no earlier than mid-February.

Santos credits Neymar’s performance last season for avoiding relegation, as he scored four goals and provided one assist in three decisive 3–0 victories despite playing through injury.

A 110-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty collapsed in Guaíba, southern Brazil, during a powerful storm on Monday afternoon. The statue, located in the parking lot of a Havan retail store near a fast-food restaurant, was severely damaged as strong winds caused it to sway and eventually break apart. Authorities confirmed that no injuries or fatalities occurred.

According to NDTV, the replica was one of several similar installations across Brazil, symbolizing the retail chain’s brand identity. The upper 24 meters of the structure were destroyed, while the 11-meter base remained intact. Havan stated that the statue, installed in 2020, had all required technical certifications. Following the collapse, the area was cordoned off to ensure public safety, and cleanup operations began within hours.

Local officials are assessing the extent of the damage and reviewing safety standards for similar structures nationwide. The incident highlights growing concerns about infrastructure resilience amid increasingly severe weather patterns in southern Brazil.

Brazil claimed their first-ever FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup title after defeating Portugal 3–0 in the final held at the PhilSports Arena in Manila, Philippines, on Sunday, December 7. The victory marked a historic moment for the Seleção women, who remained unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Emily Marcondes opened the scoring in the 10th minute, followed by Amanda Lisa de Oliveira’s strike in the 23rd minute, and Débora Vanin sealed the win with a third goal in the 38th minute. Marcondes also won the Golden Boot with seven goals. Portugal’s Ana Catarina was named Best Goalkeeper, while Brazil received the Fair Play Award. Spain finished third after defeating Argentina in the playoff.

The 16-nation tournament was the first official FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup, signaling a major milestone for women’s futsal globally. Brazil’s triumph adds to their impressive record, which already includes multiple continental and invitational titles, reinforcing their dominance in the sport.

Brazil has become the first country to approve a single-dose dengue vaccine, marking a major milestone in the global fight against the mosquito-borne disease. The vaccine, named Butantan-DV, was developed by the Butantan Institute in São Paulo and approved by the national health regulator Anvisa for individuals aged 12 to 59. Clinical trials involving 16,000 volunteers showed 91.6% efficacy against severe dengue. The approval follows eight months of nationwide testing and is expected to accelerate immunization efforts across Brazil, which has been severely affected by dengue outbreaks. The Butantan Institute has partnered with China’s company Wuxi Biologics to produce around 30 million doses by the second half of 2026. According to the World Health Organization, dengue infects over 14.6 million people annually, causing about 12,000 deaths, half of which occurred in Brazil last year. Experts link the surge in dengue cases to global warming, which expands mosquito habitats and transmission rates.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year and three-month prison sentence for his role in an attempted coup following his 2022 election defeat. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the final ruling, declaring that no further appeals would be allowed. Bolsonaro, aged 70, will serve his sentence in a federal police facility in Brasília, where he has been held since Saturday due to flight risk concerns. He was previously under house arrest and accused of tampering with his ankle monitor. The conviction stems from his alleged involvement in planning to overturn the election results against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The plot failed to gain military support, but on January 8, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, leading to about 1,500 arrests. Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, remains a deeply polarizing figure in the country’s politics.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup against his successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The court, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, finalized the verdict on November 25, instructing Bolsonaro to start his sentence at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, where he has been detained since Saturday. Bolsonaro was previously under house arrest for damaging his ankle monitor. The ruling marks a historic moment in Brazil, as it is the first time a former president has been convicted for attempting to overthrow a democratic government. Bolsonaro’s populist and divisive leadership from 2019 to 2022 left Brazil politically polarized. Following his defeat in the 2022 election, he was banned from holding public office. His legal team criticized the court for rushing the trial and vowed to appeal. The verdict has been hailed by many as a victory for Brazilian democracy.

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested at his home in Brasília on charges related to an alleged attempt to stage an illegal political coup. The arrest came just days before his 27-year prison sentence was to begin, following a Supreme Court ruling that found him guilty of trying to overturn the 2022 election results after losing to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to federal police, the preventive arrest was requested by investigators and approved by the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro also faces accusations of being linked to an armed criminal organization that sought to undermine Brazil’s democracy, particularly after his supporters attacked government buildings on January 8, 2023. His eldest son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, reportedly organized a rally outside the former president’s residence shortly before the arrest warrant was issued. Bolsonaro has denied all allegations, calling them politically motivated.

A major fire erupted at the venue of the United Nations COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, on Thursday, prompting the evacuation of thousands of delegates. The blaze started in the pavilion zone, where country exhibits and discussions were being held, though the exact cause remains unknown. Witnesses reported panic as smoke and heat spread rapidly through the crowded area, with security personnel guiding attendees to safety while firefighters battled the flames. The fire was brought under control around 2:20 p.m. local time, according to the COP presidency office. No injuries have been reported so far, but officials said they are closely monitoring the situation. The temporary venue, built on the site of an old airport in the Amazon region, hosts thousands of visitors daily. The two-week global climate conference, scheduled to conclude on Friday, November 21, may extend if last-minute negotiations are required.

Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Tunisia in a friendly match at Lille’s Decathlon Stadium in France. Despite dominating possession, Brazil conceded early due to defensive lapses before Estêvão equalized from the penalty spot just before halftime. Lucas Paquetá missed a crucial second-half penalty that could have secured victory. Coach Carlo Ancelotti, however, expressed no concern over the result, emphasizing that the team’s focus remains on reaching peak form for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He acknowledged Tunisia’s strong defensive organization and admitted Brazil failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Adding to Brazil’s worries, defender Éder Militão left the field in the 60th minute after feeling discomfort from a recurring ligament injury. Brazil, who finished fifth in the qualifying standings with 28 points from 18 matches, will not play any more friendlies before the World Cup.

The COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, has faced significant logistical and financial challenges, preventing many delegates from smaller, low-budget nations from attending. Accommodation shortages and skyrocketing hotel prices, reaching up to $60,000 for ten nights, have made participation unaffordable for numerous representatives. Some attendees have been forced to stay more than an hour away from the main venue. To address the shortage, a floating community housing project, known locally as 'Vila da Barca', was created to host around 200 young participants. The absence of several world leaders and senior officials, particularly from major countries, has further reduced attendance. Observers note that the combination of high travel expenses, infrastructure limitations, and declining political engagement has dampened the scale of this year’s global climate gathering.

In Brazil’s Amazonian port city of Belém, around 50,000 visitors have arrived for the UN Climate Conference (COP30), overwhelming the city’s limited hotel capacity of 18,000 rooms. To address the accommodation crisis, the Brazilian government converted two large cruise ships, Costa Diadema and MSC Seaview, into floating hotels anchored at the newly built Outeiro Cruise Terminal. Together, they provide about 4,000 additional rooms for over 10,000 guests. The $45 million terminal upgrade also improved local infrastructure. However, environmentalists criticized the use of diesel-powered ships for a climate summit, citing high fuel consumption and carbon emissions. While some attendees appreciate the unique experience, others complain about small cabins and long commutes to the conference venue. Despite the controversy, the floating hotels remain the only viable solution for the city’s accommodation shortage during the event.

Brazil has formally joined South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocidal acts in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Exercising its right under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute, Brazil argued that Israel’s impunity threatens international law. The country now stands with Spain, Ireland, Mexico, Turkey, and others supporting South Africa’s case. Since the conflict began in October 2023, over 65,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza.

Brazil is preparing countermeasures against the United States after President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian exports, including coffee. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has authorized a review to determine if the U.S. measures fall under Brazil’s new Economic Reciprocity Law. Potential actions include retaliatory tariffs and suspending trade benefits. Relations have soured since the tariffs took effect on August 6. Brazil has also appealed to the World Trade Organization while keeping diplomatic options open.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – British multinational oil and gas company BP has announced the discovery of the largest oil and gas field off the Brazilian coast in the past 25 years. Located 404 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro and 2,372 meters below sea level, this marks BP’s tenth discovery this year.

Following the announcement, BP’s shares rose by over 1% on the London Stock Exchange. The company plans to drill around 40 wells globally over the next three years, including up to 15 in 2025 alone. BP has set an ambitious target of producing between 2.3 and 2.5 million barrels of oil per day by 2030.