Santos was set to face Red Bull Bragantino in the Campeonato Paulista quarterfinals, aiming for their first major trophy since returning to the first division. Once again, Neymar displayed his brilliance by opening the scoring with a sensational free kick. However, his performance was cut short when he was forced off the pitch due to an injury.
In the 9th minute, Neymar was fouled by Bragantino‘s Pedro Henrique just outside the box. Instead of crossing, the Santos star opted to go for goal from a tight angle. With a powerful strike, he found the back of the net, giving the home side the lead.
In an euphoric celebration, Neymar approached the camera and fans, pounding his chest and shouting “Eu sou foda,” meaning “I am awesome” in English. This goal was crucial, as there is no second leg, meaning Santos must secure a strong result to stay in the competition.
Neymar’s strike against Bragantino marks his third goal in the last four matches for Santos. During this run, the Brazilian star has also registered three assists, including an Olympic goal, providing a significant morale boost after over a year on the sidelines.
The Campeonato Paulista pits teams from the state of São Paulo against one another. With Santos beating Bragantino 2-0, the team will face either Corinthians, Palmeiras, or the victor between São Paulo FC and Novorizontino for the semifinals.
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Neymar forced off with injury
In the second half, with Santos leading 2-0, alarm bells rang as Neymar was seen struggling to continue. In the 76th minute, he collapsed to the ground, unable to play on, and was promptly substituted for Gabriel Veron, raising concerns once again.
Despite the discomfort, Neymar walked off the pitch on his own before being attended to by the medical staff. The focus of the treatment was his left hamstring, suggesting a potential muscle injury—distinct from his previous right hamstring tendon rupture.
Neymar looking for a place in Brazil national team
After returning from an ACL injury, Neymar’s prospects for rejoining the Brazil national team were questioned. In October 2024, coach Dorival Junior chose not to call him up, prioritizing his recovery, which was further delayed by a muscle injury.
Having returned to Santos after a slow start, Neymar had been regaining his form and was once again in the mix for Brazil’s upcoming matches. However, this injury may jeopardize his participation. The Brazilian icon has delivered several impressive performances recently, earning a spot in Dorival’s preliminary squad for Brazil’s upcoming matches against Colombia and Argentina in March.
