Neymar Jr. left the field in tears after Santos FC suffered a devastating 6-0 loss to Vasco Da Gama in the Brazilian top flight, a defeat he described as the most humiliating of his career.
This heavy defeat marked the first time Santos FC had conceded six goals in a Brazilian Serie A match. Eight-time Brazilian champions, Santos FC, currently sit in the relegation zone, just two points from safety, despite having Neymar Jr. in their squad.
Following the crushing defeat, head coach Cleber Xavier was promptly fired by the club within hours of the match. Vasco Da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, scored two goals, securing the team’s first victory in six matches and their largest win in 17 years.
Neymar Jr.’s performance was a strong disappointment, and many fans protested, demanding solutions from the club. “I have never seen this before in my life. Unfortunately, I can’t help anything,” Neymar Jr. told reporters in an audio statement after the match. “I think everyone today should go home and sleep, thinking about what happened and what they want to do next.”
Neymar, 33 years old, became the most expensive player in football history with his €222 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. He recently returned to Santos FC for the new season after terminating his contract with Al Hilal due to frequent injuries. This season, he has played 12 matches for Santos FC, contributing 6 assists.
