Football superstar Neymar Jr. was seen leaving the field in distress and tears following Santos FC’s devastating 6-0 loss to Vasco Da Gama in a Brazilian top-flight match. The monumental defeat marks what many are calling the most embarrassing failure in the player’s career and an unprecedented event in Santos FC’s history.
This crushing result stands as the largest margin of defeat in Neymar Jr.’s professional career. It is also a historic first for Santos FC, an institution with a proud legacy as eight-time champions of Brazil, to concede as many as six goals in the Top Brazilian League (Serie A). The club, despite having a player of Neymar Jr.’s caliber in their squad, currently finds itself in a precarious position, lingering in the lower half of the table with only a two-point cushion.
The immediate fallout from the shocking loss was swift and decisive. Just hours after the final whistle, head coach Cleber Xavier was promptly relieved of his duties by the club’s management.
On the other side of the pitch, Vasco Da Gama celebrated a significant victory. Midfielder Philippe Coutinho, a player with previous stints at European giants like Liverpool and Aston Villa, was instrumental in their triumph, contributing two crucial goals. This emphatic win marks Vasco Da Gama’s first victory in their last six matches and represents the club’s largest win in 17 years, a remarkable turnaround for the team.
For Neymar Jr., the match concluded with profound disappointment, a sentiment echoed by the entire Santos FC squad. Fans, visibly frustrated, also voiced their protests, demanding immediate solutions from the club’s leadership. Reflecting on the profound nature of the defeat, Neymar Jr. reportedly told journalists after the game, “I have never seen this before in my life. This is unfortunate; I can’t help anything. I think everyone today should go home and sleep, thinking about what happened today, and what they want to do next.”
Neymar Jr., who is currently 33 years old, remains one of football’s most recognizable figures. He famously became the most expensive player in football history in 2017 when he transferred from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a staggering EUR 222 million. In what has been a notable return for the new season, Neymar Jr. rejoined Santos FC after an injury-plagued tenure with Al Hilal, where his contract was reportedly disconnected due to frequent injuries. Since his mid-season return to Santos FC, Neymar has made 12 appearances, registering 6 assists for the team.
