Neymar scores first goal since returning to Santos in Brazil in big relief to star

Brazil superstar Neymar managed to bag his first goal for his boyhood club Santos since he made a return to Brazil after an unsuccessful stint in Saudi Arabia. Neymar scored from the penalty spot on Sunday in a 3-1 win over Sao Paulo-based Água Santa. Neymar has not managed to play all 90 minutes in a match for Santos. His performances were below par in the first three games for the club. Neymar’s goal came in the 14th minute in a Sao Paulo state championship match. Thaciano and Guilherme, with an assist by Neymar, scored the other goals for Santos.

Neymar returned to Brazil to play for the where he made his mark in world football after his stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal had ended by mutual agreement. He spent most of his time in Saudi Arabia out injured and officially returned to soccer in October after an entire year out. In fact, at Al-Hilal, he played only seven matches and scored once.

“I left here at age 21, I travelled the world, made history in the clubs I played for. This (taking pictures with rivals) is the respect I get back home,” he had said after playing his first match for the club recently in front of 20,000 fans at the Vila Belmiro Stadium.

Story continues below this ad

While he recovers from his knee injury, Neymar has signed a six-month contract with Santos, which could be extended later.

In his first professional spell at Santos from 2009 to 2013, he scored 138 goals in 225 official matches. The Brazilian became the most expensive player in soccer history when he transferred from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros (then $262 million) in 2017. He went to Al-Hilal in 2023 for 90 million euros ($94 million).