Neymar Jr. visibly emotional, left the field in tears following Santos FC’s devastating 6-0 loss to Vasco Da Gama in Brazil’s top league. The defeat has been described as the most embarrassing failure of his career.
This marks the biggest failure for Neymar at Santos FC, and it’s the first time the club has conceded six goals in a Brazilian Serie A match. Eight-time champions Santos FC now find themselves in the relegation zone, just two points from safety, despite Neymar’s presence. Following the crushing defeat, coach Cleber Xavier was fired within hours.
Vasco Da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, contributed two goals to secure his team’s first victory in six matches and their largest win in 17 years.
Neymar’s performance mirrored the team’s widespread disappointment, leading to protests from fans demanding change at the club. Neymar Jr. reportedly told journalists 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, who made history with a €222 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, recently returned to Santos FC this season after terminating his Al Hilal contract due to frequent injuries. Since his return mid-season, Neymar has made 12 appearances, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists.
