Santos vs. Flamengo Lineups: Is Neymar Playing Tonight?

Ricardo Moreira / Getty Images

Santos vs. Flamengo Lineups: Is Neymar Playing Tonight?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Pragjyoti Singh | Last updated Oct 8, 2026 4:00 PM ET

Santos hosts Flamengo tonight at the Vila Belmiro in a Campeonato Brasileiro Série A fixture. Both teams enter the match in impressive form, with Santos riding a five-match winning streak, while Flamengo are unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions.

Cuca’s side are in 8th place with 41 points and are experiencing their best run of the season with a seven-match undefeated streak. In their last match, they defeated São Paulo 2-1 and are also boosted by the signing of Philippe Coutinho.

Meanwhile, their opponents Flamengo lead the league with 60 points and manager Leonardo Jardim will be aiming to win and extend their cushion over second place Palmeiras who are only three points behind them.

Flamengo also enter tonight’s fixture boasting the division’s best attack and strongest away record.

In their head-to-head record, Flamengo holds a slight edge, with 52 victories to Santos’ 50 in 137 matches, including a 3-1 win at the Maracanã earlier in the season.

Is Neymar Playing Tonight?

After missing five weeks of action after suffering a thigh injury during a Copa do Brasil quarter-final match against Palmeiras, Neymar was named in the matchday squad for tonight’s match.

Neymar Junior fights for the ball with Murilo during the Copa do Brasil 2026 match between Santos and Palmeiras.Photo by Ricardo Moreira/Getty Images)

The Brazilian forward has made 12 appearances this season, scoring six goals and recording three assists. Although he is expected to get some valuable minutes tonight, Cuca is not expected to feature him in the starting lineup.

Santos vs. Flamengo Expected Lineups & Team News

Cuca welcomes back Luan Peres from suspension and has Benjamín Rollheiser available again. However, the hosts are dealing with a few absences as Arthur is sidelined with a thigh muscle injury, goalkeeper Gabriel Brazão is still recovering from shoulder surgery, and Everton Cebolinha is unavailable due to a contractual clause requiring a two million Real payment to face his parent club.

Flamengo’s list of absences includes Giorgian de Arrascaeta who is still recovering, Leo Ortiz who is not available because of family commitments, Ayrton Lucas and Everton Araujo who are undergoing treatment for their respective injuries, and full-back Guillermo Varela who misses out due to a late return from international duty with Uruguay.

Santos:

Diogenes; Rodinei, Verissimo, Peres, Escobar; Oliva, Arão; Coutinho, Rollheiser, Barreal; Barbosa

Flamengo:

Rossi; Emerson, Ortiz, Pereira, Sandro; Jorginho, Pulgar; Paquetá, Carrascal, Lino; Pedro

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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