Neymar Jr. left the field in tears following Santos FC’s humiliating 6-0 defeat to Vasco Da Gama in Brazil’s top-flight Serie A. The loss marked one of the most embarrassing failures in his career and a historic low for Santos.
It was the first time Santos, an eight-time Brazilian champion, conceded six goals in the league. Despite having Neymar Jr. on their roster, the team is currently struggling, positioned in the distant area of the standings with only two points separating them from the bottom.
Hours after the match, Santos coach Cleber Xavier was promptly fired. On the winning side, Vasco Da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, previously of Liverpool and Aston Villa, contributed two goals. This victory was Vasco’s first in six matches and their largest win in 17 years.
Neymar Jr.’s deep disappointment was palpable, echoing the frustration of the entire team and prompting protests from fans demanding solutions for the club. “I have never seen this before in my life. This, unfortunately, I can’t help anything,” Neymar told journalists after the game. “I think all today should go home and sleep, thinking about what happened today, and what they want to do next.”
The 33-year-old, known for being the most expensive transfer in football history (EUR 222 million from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017), returned to Santos FC this season after his contract with Al Hilal was terminated due to frequent injuries. Since his return mid-season, Neymar has made 12 appearances, scoring 6 goals and assisting 3.
