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. This marked the most embarrassing failure of his career. It was also Santos FC’s first time conceding six goals in the Brazilian top-flight (Serie A), as no club had previously scored so many against them in the league.
Eight-time Brazilian champions, Santos FC are currently struggling in the relegation zone, just two points from the bottom, despite having Neymar Jr. on their roster. Following the devastating loss, coach Cleber Xavier was fired by the club just hours after the match.
Vasco da Gama midfielder Philippe Coutinho, formerly of Liverpool and Aston Villa, scored two goals, helping his team secure their first victory in six matches and their biggest win in 17 years. Neymar Jr.’s performance left the entire team and fans deeply disappointed, with many supporters protesting for immediate changes at the club.
Neymar Jr. told reporters 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 Jr., who holds the record for the most expensive transfer in football history following his €222 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, had recently returned to Santos FC this season. He terminated his contract with Al Hilal due to frequent injuries. Since his mid-season return, Neymar has made 12 appearances, contributing 6 assists.
