Neymar Jr. left the field in tears after Santos FC suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat against Vasco da Gama in Brazil’s top league, Serie A. This loss marked the worst defeat of Neymar’s career and was the first time Santos had conceded six goals in a league match.
Eight-time Brazilian champions, Santos FC, found themselves in a precarious position, just two points above the relegation zone. Following this crushing defeat, coach Cleber Xavier was immediately fired from the club.
Vasco da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, was instrumental, scoring two goals. This victory was Vasco’s first in six matches and their largest win in 17 years.
The loss left Neymar and the entire team deeply disappointed, with many fans protesting and demanding solutions from the club. A visibly distraught Neymar 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 Neymar, known for his historic €222 million transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, recently returned to Santos FC this season after terminating his contract with Al-Hilal due to frequent injuries. Since his mid-season return, Neymar has made 12 appearances for Santos, contributing six assists.
