Understand why Paulinho’s injury requires more attention from Palmeiras.
Palmeiras’ doctor reveals that the number 10’s injury is one of the rarest and caution is needed.
Palmeiras striker Paulinho makes no secret of his desire and eagerness to return to the pitch. The number 10 underwent another surgery on his right leg in July and missed the entire second half of the season, being absent from crucial Brasileirão matches and the Libertadores final. The rare injury is being monitored very carefully by the club’s medical department and, therefore, the player will not skip any steps until he is 100% ready.
Dr. Pedro Pontin, Palmeiras’ team doctor, explained the severity of the injury and the risks involved in an early return. The surgery performed on the player’s right shin was to fix the tibia with a bone graft.
– Paulinho suffered one of the most annoying and rare injuries that happen in football, which is a stress fracture. Whenever you have an injury like that, you always have a risk of having a similar injury again, just like any other – said the doctor, in the documentary series ” Acesso Total” , on “Globo” .
In excerpts released by the documentary, Paulinho recounted the “unbearable pain” he felt during the match against Botafogo, precisely when he scored the winning goal for Palmeiras, securing their place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup.
“I can come back this year, it’s just a matter of the doctor wanting it, but he won’t. Last round of the Brazilian Championship, Libertadores final… I can come back,” the player continued, stating that he was fit to play in Palmeiras’ final matches of the season, but was ultimately sidelined in order to meet the schedule with excellence.
– Is the wound already healed? When do you think it will be healed? Five months? That’s impossible, man (…) I’ll be one of the first reinforcements for the 2026 team. With what the team has today, I’ll add a lot. I’m very anxious for that, to show myself 100% – concluded the player.
Paulinho responds to post on social media.
On Tuesday (30), Abel Ferreira’s number 10 went to social media to respond to a publication that talked about the difference between the player’s two shins. It is worth remembering that this was Paulinho’s second surgery – the first, when he played for Atlético-MG.
“I underwent two surgeries on my tibia, my leg will be like this forever. I have a plate there and there’s no way to remove it, it’s impossible for this leg to be the same as the other. Regarding my return, I have to follow and respect the club’s protocol, regardless of my desire to return soon,” Paulinho replied in the post.
Paulinho is in the final stages of recovery and will not be on the field for the first few weeks of 2026. Palmeiras’ medical department does not disclose the exact return date for injured players, but the expectation is that he will only return at the end of February.
Paulinho played 16 games for his new club, only one as a starter, and scored three goals, two of them during Palmeiras’ campaign in the Club World Cup.