Santos: Neymar delivered a timely reminder of his quality, scoring both goals in Santos FC’s 2-1 victory over Vasco da Gama in the fourth round of the Brasileirão on Thursday.
The 33-year-old forward, who recently returned from surgery, opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a composed finish to give Santos the lead. Vasco responded before halftime to level the match, but Neymar struck again in the second half to seal all three points for the hosts.
It was Neymar’s first goals of 2026 and only his third appearance of the year, as he continues his comeback from injury. The former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star completed his second full 90 minutes of the season, showing encouraging signs of regaining match fitness.
After scoring his opener, Neymar celebrated with a dance at the corner flag, echoing a recent celebration by Vinícius Júnior for Real Madrid in European competition.
The match also featured a heated moment involving Vasco midfielder Thiago Mendes, with whom Neymar shares a history dating back to a 2020 injury sustained during his time in France.
With Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti maintaining that Neymar will be considered for selection if fully fit, the brace strengthens the forward’s chances of returning to the national side ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
For Santos and their fans, however, the focus remains on the immediate impact: a match-winning performance from their No. 10 and a vital victory in the early stages of the league campaign.
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