Neymar Jr. departed the field in tears following Santos FC’s devastating 6-0 loss to Vasco Da Gama in Brazil’s top league, Serie A. This marked a career-low for Neymar and Santos FC’s most embarrassing defeat, being the first time they conceded six goals in the league.
The defeat leaves eight-time champions Santos FC in the distant relegation zone with just two points separating them. In the immediate aftermath, coach Cleber Xavier was fired from the club.
Vasco Da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, was instrumental, scoring two goals. His contribution secured Vasco’s first victory in six matches and their largest win in 17 years.
Neymar Jr.’s performance was a significant disappointment for the team, sparking protests from fans demanding solutions for the club. Reflecting on the match, Neymar told journalists, “I have never seen this before in my life. This unfortunately I can’t help anything. I think all today should go home and sleeping thinking about what happened today, and what do they want to do next.”
The 33-year-old, known for his record-breaking €222 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, recently returned to Santos FC after terminating his Al Hilal contract due to frequent injuries. Since his mid-season return, Neymar has made 12 appearances for Santos, scoring 6 goals and providing 6 assists.
