Brazil: Neymar Finds the Net Again After 502 Days
After rejoining Santos in late January, Neymar celebrated his long-awaited return with a goal last Sunday. The Brazilian forward scored a penalty, which he earned himself, during a match against Água Santa in the São Paulo state championship.
This goal comes as a relief for Neymar, who had not found the net since returning to his former club amidst criticism of his recent performances.
At 33 years old, Neymar converted the penalty against a fourth division team. He initiated the play and was fouled in the box, showcasing his signature slow and fast run to open the scoring in the 14th minute, outsmarting the Água Santa goalkeeper.
With this goal, Neymar has now reached an impressive tally of 139 goals in 234 appearances for Santos, a club he left in 2013 to pursue a career in Europe with FC Barcelona. This also marks his first goal since October 3, 2023, when he was still with Saudi club Al-Hilal, whose contract he terminated at the end of January before making his return to Brazil.
Neymar's stint in the Gulf was plagued by numerous injuries, which restricted his playing time. The Brazilian national team's all-time leading scorer managed to play only seven matches for Al-Hilal over a span of more than a year and a half.
While his return to Santos has been celebrated, it also raises questions about his fitness and current form. On Sunday, in addition to scoring a goal, Neymar provided an assist, marking another highlight in the four matches he has played since coming back to Brazil. His team clinched a 3-1 victory in that match.
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