Neymar Jr. left the field in tears after Santos FC suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Vasco Da Gama in the Brazilian league, marking what he described as the most embarrassing failure of his career. This 6-0 loss was Santos FC’s largest defeat in the Brazilian Serie A, a competition where they rarely concede so many goals, and a personal low for Neymar.
Eight-time Brazilian champions Santos FC are currently near the relegation zone, despite having Neymar Jr. on their roster. Following the loss, coach Cleber Xavier was immediately fired. Vasco Da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, scored two goals, securing his team’s first victory in six matches and their biggest win in 17 years.
Neymar Jr.’s performance fueled widespread disappointment among the team and fans, who protested for solutions at the club. “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,” Neymar, 33, told journalists after the match.
Neymar remains the most expensive player in football history, having transferred from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for EUR 222 million in 2017. He returned to Santos FC this season after terminating his contract with Al Hilal due to frequent injuries. Since rejoining mid-season, Neymar has made 12 appearances, contributing six assists.
