In round 14 of the Brazilian Championship, Santos defeated league leaders Flamengo 1-0. Neymar scored the only goal in the 84th minute, maneuvering between two defenders before shooting from close range. The goal against Flamengo was Neymar's first in this season's Brazilian Championship and his first in four months. His previous goal came in the Sao Paulo State Championship quarter-final, a 2-0 victory over Red Bull Bragantino on 2/3.
 |
Neymar celebrates his goal during Santos' 1-0 victory over Flamengo on the morning of 17/7. Photo: Santos |
"I'm very happy to be able to contribute in all aspects, both offensively and defensively," Neymar said. "Flamengo is the strongest team in the league. This is a new beginning for us. We've proven that we can compete with any opponent in the Brazilian Championship."
Santos currently sits 13th in the Brazilian Championship, with 14 points after 13 matches. They still have a game in hand against Palmeiras, who recently reached the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals.
Neymar was sidelined for a year starting in October 2023 due to an ACL tear. After terminating his contract with Al Hilal early, the former Brazilian national team captain returned to Santos in February. He has scored four goals in 13 appearances for Santos but hasn't been entirely convincing with his performance. Most of his movements have appeared heavy, slow, and lacking intensity. Neymar also sustained two more injuries after returning to the Meninos stadium. The match against Flamengo was his first full 90 minutes since 23/2.
"I want to play the full 90 minutes in every match," Neymar added. "I'm not at 100% yet, but I'm improving every day. I want to get into better shape, and that takes time, both in training and in matches. My body is still adapting and getting used to everything again. It's not easy to deal with injuries."
Neymar recently extended his contract with Santos until the end of 2025. The two sides also have an agreement to extend it until the 2026 World Cup in July next year. Neymar hasn't returned to the Brazilian national team since his injury in October 2023. He still holds the record of 79 goals for the team, two more than Pele's former record.
Thanh Quy (according to ESPN)
