Right at the time of great pressure on both individuals and teams, Neymar spoke up with the only goal to help Santos defeat Flamengo 1-0 in round 14 of the Brazilian championship (17.7).
In the 84th minute, in a tense match, Neymar suddenly rotated between two Flamengo defenders and then finished coldly from close range, bringing Santos all three points. This was his first goal in the domestic league since March, marking his return after 4 months of failed play.
"Flamengo are the strongest team in the league and this victory is a fresh start for us. I am not at my best, but I am improving every day. I need time for my body to adapt to what I have gone through," Neymar said after the match.
This victory temporarily took Santos to 13th place with 14 points after 13 rounds. Meanwhile, Neymar himself also had his first full match since the end of February, a rare thing after more than a year of struggling with all kinds of injuries, from ligament tear to muscle smash.
After saying goodbye to Al Hilal earlier this year, Neymar returned to Santos with high expectations. However, in the first 13 matches, he only scored 4 goals and could still reassure fans. Most of his time on the pitch, Neymar played reserved, lacked enough explosiveness and was often in pain.
However, his contract with Santos has been extended until the end of 2025, with a clause extending until the 2026 World Cup. The Brazilian team is also waiting for him to return.
To date, Neymar is still the top scorer in the history of the national team with 79 goals, surpassing the record of the legendary Pele.
