Neymar Jr. left the field in tears after Santos FC suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Vasco Da Gama in the Brazilian Serie A, marking what many are calling the biggest failure of his career. This unprecedented defeat for Santos FC saw them concede six goals in a league match for the first time in the Brazilian Serie A. The eight-time Brazilian champions are now precariously close to the relegation zone, despite Neymar being a key part of the squad.
The heavy loss led to immediate repercussions, with coach Cleber Xavier fired just hours after the game. Fans also expressed strong disappointment, protesting for solutions at the club.
For Vasco Da Gama, the victory was historic. Midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, scored two goals, helping his team secure their first win in six matches and their largest victory in 17 years.
A visibly emotional Neymar commented after the match, “I have never seen this before in my life. Unfortunately, I can’t help anything. I think everyone today should go home and sleep, thinking about what happened and what they want to do next.”
The 33-year-old superstar, famous for his record-breaking €222 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, had recently returned to Santos FC. He rejoined the club after terminating his contract with Al Hilal due to frequent injuries. Since his mid-season return, Neymar has made 12 appearances for Santos, contributing six assists.
