Neymar erupted in fury after being wrongly substituted during Santos' 3-0 loss to Coritiba. The Brazil star, seeking to impress national coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of World Cup selection, was yellow-carded after attempting to return to the field when officials mistakenly called for his substitution instead of teammate Gonzalo Escobar.

The 34-year-old snatched the substitution slip from officials and displayed it to television cameras, proving the error. Santos confirmed on social media that television coverage and officials' notes confirmed the fourth official's mistake during the match where Neymar was temporarily off receiving calf treatment, an inexplicable error that wasn't corrected.

Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals, Neymar hasn't played for his country since 2023 due to persistent injuries. He recently extended his Santos contract until 2026 targeting a World Cup return, with Brazil opening their tournament against Morocco on June 13 in the North American-hosted competition.