Neymar Has Successful Knee Surgery After Painful Season at Santos

Santos, Brazil — Brazilian soccer star Neymar underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday to repair a torn meniscus, the club announced, marking the end of a grueling season in which he played through severe pain to help his boyhood team avoid relegation from the top flight.

The 33-year-old forward, who rejoined Santos in January after a brief stint with Saudi club Al-Hilal, had been managing the injury since November. Despite the discomfort, Neymar appeared in 19 of 38 league matches during Brazil's Serie A season, which ran from April to December. He scored eight goals overall, with a decisive contribution in the final stretch: five goals and one assist across his last four games, including a 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro on the closing day that secured a 13th-place finish and safety from demotion.

"For weeks I could barely play," Neymar said after the season. "But I did it for Santos." His efforts propelled the club to an unbeaten run in their final matches, averting what would have been only their second relegation in 112 years of history.

The minimally invasive procedure was performed by Rodrigo Lasmar, the doctor for Brazil's national team, at a hospital...