Neymar has found the back of the net with Santos: a clear action, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, finished without hesitation. This comes after a few complicated days for Neymar.
Neymar finally scores! His first goal since August 5. A much-anticipated goal for the Brazilian, who has been under pressure for weeks. Last weekend, Neymar completely lost his temper. Constant bad mood, criticism of the refereeing, gestures of annoyance… The former Parisian put on a true show… of ridicule.
Substituted in the 85th minute while Santos was trailing 3-0, he had a meltdown:
– kicked a bottle,
– left the field before the end of the match,
– insulted the refereeing,
– yelled at his teammates,
– made incessant protests.
He even crossed the entire field to take a goal kick himself, frustrated by his team’s pace. And in an ironic twist, Santos scored twice after his departure.
GOL DO SANTOS! Neymar recebeu a bola sozinho, cara a cara com o goleiro e não desperdiçou#Futebol #Brasileirão #Santos #Mirassol pic.twitter.com/PutLnr6d1r
— ge (@geglobo) November 20, 2025
A phone call to the coach… but very limited apologies
In response to the uproar, Neymar called his coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda to acknowledge that he had “crossed the line.” However, there were no official apologies — he simply mentioned his irritation with the referee to justify his behavior. He timidly apologized to the locker room, which the club considers sufficient to close the incident. No sanctions are planned.
And as if that weren’t enough… a clash on Instagram
Neymar then attacked Globo Esporte on Instagram, calling a journalist “shit” and denouncing “another lie.” A harsh message that only amplified the discomfort surrounding his return.
Ancelotti gives him the instructions to return to the national team
In search of a return to the national team for the 2026 World Cup, Neymar knows he is in a race against time. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has been very clear: “Neymar can go to the World Cup. He has six months left to earn his place. It’s up to him to stay fit, perform, and play matches.” In other words: less controversy, more football.
Now it remains to be seen if Neymar can turn his outbursts… into sporting consistency.
