{"id":8775,"date":"2025-03-11T07:33:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T07:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=8775"},"modified":"2025-03-11T07:33:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T07:33:26","slug":"how-is-neymar-faring-at-santos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/how-is-neymar-faring-at-santos","title":{"rendered":"How is Neymar faring after his monumental return to Santos?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Picture this: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/player\/neymar-45\">Neymar Jr.<\/a>, the Brazilian wonderkid turned global superstar, strolling back into Santos FC like a rockstar reclaiming the stage after a decade-long world tour. It\u2019s February 2025, and the 33-year-old icon\u2014once the prince of S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s Vila Belmiro\u2014has ditched the glitz of Europe and the oil-rich pitches of Saudi Arabia for a return to where it all began. The move stunned the football world. After years of injuries, mega-transfers, and off-field headlines, Neymar\u2019s decision to rejoin his boyhood club feels like a fever dream\u2014a cocktail of nostalgia, redemption, and a sprinkle of \u201cwhat the hell is he up to now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since touching down in Brazil in late January, Neymar\u2019s second act with Santos has been a rollercoaster of dazzling moments, lingering questions, and a fanbase oscillating between delirium and cautious optimism. Seven games in, three goals, three assists, and a handful of viral clips later, the question looms: Is this the rebirth of a legend or just a sentimental pit stop? Let\u2019s dive into Neymar\u2019s Santos sequel\u2014how he\u2019s performing, what the fans are saying, and whether the magic still flickers in those famous feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Neymar has now scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists in 7 games since his return to Santos! ??? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1KHHlOtb0p\">pic.twitter.com\/1KHHlOtb0p<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1896565069598867589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 3, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Neymar: The Return<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-comeback-kid-performance-so-far\">The Comeback Kid: Performance So Far<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#fan-frenzy-from-skeptics-to-believers\">Fan Frenzy: From Skeptics to Believers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#stats-that-tell-the-story\">Stats That Tell the Story<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-bigger-picture-whats-next\">The Bigger Picture: What\u2019s Next?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#final-whistle-a-spark-reignited\">Final Whistle: A Spark Reignited<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-comeback-kid-performance-so-far\">The Comeback Kid: Performance So Far<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Neymar\u2019s return kicked off on February 5, 2025, against Botafogo-SP in the Campeonato Paulista, Brazil\u2019s state league that\u2019s equal parts chaotic and charming. Coming off the bench, he didn\u2019t score, didn\u2019t assist, but still managed to remind everyone why he\u2019s Neymar\u2014dribbling past defenders like they were traffic cones and flashing that trademark grin. The stat sheet stayed quiet, but the vibes were loud. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/team\/santos-1224\">Santos<\/a> won, and the crowd roared like it was 2012 all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast forward a few weeks, and the numbers are starting to pop. In seven appearances\u2014six starts\u2014Neymar has notched three goals and three assists, a tidy haul for a guy who hadn\u2019t played competitive football consistently since his injury-plagued stint at Al Hilal. His first goal came on February 18 against Agua Santa, a penalty-slotted home with the coolness of a man who\u2019s done it 137 times for Santos across two spells. Then came the fireworks: an Olimpico goal (straight from a corner, for the uninitiated) against Internacional de Limeira on February 24, followed by a wicked free-kick screamer against Bragantino on March 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That Olimpico? Pure Neymar theater. With Inter de Limeira fans jeering, he cupped his ear, egged them on, then whipped the ball off the post and into the net. The boos turned to silence, then Santos cheered, as he perched on an ad board, arms crossed, smirking like a kid who just aced a pop quiz. The Bragantino strike\u2014his third in four games\u2014sent Santos to the Paulista semifinals and had analysts nodding: maybe, just maybe, the old Neymar isn\u2019t gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Physically, he\u2019s not the sprightly teenager who terrorised defenses a decade ago. The knee injury\u2014an ACL and meniscus tear from October 2023\u2014still lingers in the cautious way he moves at times. He\u2019s subbed off early in most games, and against Bragantino, he asked to come off, sparking a brief injury scare (he later posted on Instagram: \u201cI\u2019m fine, just sparing myself!\u201d). But the skill? Untouched. The vision? Still razor-sharp. He\u2019s averaging a goal contribution every 90 minutes, and Santos\u2019 attack\u201411 goals in their last four games\u2014has him at the heart of it.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Neymar-Santos-01-1-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Neymar of Santos celebrates scored goal during a match against Botafogo as part of the Brazilian Championship at Engenhao Stadium on May 8, 2010 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  \" class=\"wp-image-8778\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Buda Mendes\/LatinContent via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>One incident that did bring up old memories, and in a negative was,y was a few days ago when the Brazilian superstar missed the game vs Corinthians, which ended in Santos&#8217; elimination in the Paulista semi-final. There were reports of a minor injury and Ney himself took it to Instagram to claim that &#8220;He wanted nothing more than to be on the pitch&#8221; but when you look at the calendar and see that it&#8217;s his sister&#8217;s birthday right around the corner, you can&#8217;t help to wonder if it had something to do with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fan-frenzy-from-skeptics-to-believers\">Fan Frenzy: From Skeptics to Believers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When Neymar\u2019s return was announced, Santos fans didn\u2019t know whether to pop champagne or brace for disappointment. This wasn\u2019t the fresh-faced 17-year-old who\u2019d once dyed his hair into a mohawk and danced past defenders. This was a 33-year-old with a battered body, a reputation for partying, and a Saudi stint that felt more like a paid vacation than a footballing chapter. \u201cMany experts figured his best days were behind him,\u201d wrote Marca\u2019s team, echoing the skepticism that greeted his January 31 free transfer from Al Hilal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The early days didn\u2019t help. Three games, no goals, no assists, and a 2-1 loss to Corinthians had some muttering about a washed-up star coasting on nostalgia. Neymar hit back on social media: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t the result we wanted, but we\u2019re improving, getting stronger\u2026 I have faith in this team.\u201d The doubters stayed loud\u2014until that Olimpico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That goal flipped the script. Santos\u2019 Vila Belmiro erupted, and social media lit up with fans losing their minds. \u201cO NEYMAR METEU UM GOL OL\u00cdMPICO! N\u00c3O \u00c9 POSS\u00cdVEL!\u201d screamed TNT Sports BR on X, while clips of Neymar shushing the crowd racked up millions of views. By the time he buried that free-kick against Bragantino, the narrative shifted. \u201cHe\u2019s still got it,\u201d one fan posted on X. \u201cThis is why we love him,\u201d another gushed, alongside a heart-eyes emoji. At Rio Carnival 2025, days after the Bragantino win, Neymar and girlfriend Bruna Biancardi were spotted in a PDA-fest, and the Santos faithful cheered him like a conquering hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not all blind adoration. Some still grumble about his fitness\u2014he\u2019s yet to play a full 90\u2014or his complaints about the Paulista\u2019s \u201creally bad\u201d Penalty match ball. But the tide\u2019s turning. Attendance is up, jerseys are flying off shelves, and the \u201cNeymar effect\u201d is palpable. As beIN SPORTS put it, \u201cHe\u2019s proving in every match that he can still make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Neymar-Santos-1-1024x712.jpg\" alt=\"Neymar is a ballerrrrrrr\" class=\"wp-image-8780\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Alexandre Schneider\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"stats-that-tell-the-story\">Stats That Tell the Story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s break it down numerically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Games Played: 7 (6 starts, 1 sub appearance)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minutes: ~450 (averaging 64 per game)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goals: 3 (1 penalty, 1 Olimpico, 1 free-kick)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assists: 3<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goal Contributions per 90: 1.0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Santos Record Since Return: 5 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Compare that to his Al Hilal tenure\u20147 games in 18 months, 1 goal, 3 assists\u2014and it\u2019s night and day. At Santos, he\u2019s not just playing; he\u2019s playing. His six-goal contributions in seven games match his entire Saudi output, and he\u2019s started five straight, a streak he never managed in the desert. For context, Santos has scored 11 goals in their last four matches, with Neymar involved in six. That\u2019s over 50% of their recent attacking output tied to one man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-bigger-picture-whats-next\">The Bigger Picture: What\u2019s Next?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The underlying numbers dazzle too. Against Inter de Limeira, he had a hand in all three goals. His dribbles\u2014those audacious, ankle-breaking feints\u2014still leave defenders grasping air. He\u2019s not at his Barcelona or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/team\/psg-480\">PSG<\/a> peak, but for a Brazilian state league, he\u2019s a cut above, a Ferrari revving through a parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neymar\u2019s Santos stint isn\u2019t just a homecoming\u2014it\u2019s a proving ground. After 17 months sidelined from Brazil\u2019s national team, his form earned a call-up for the March 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. \u201cI\u2019m getting back into my best physical shape,\u201d he said after the Bragantino goal, and coach Dorival J\u00fanior seems to agree, banking on Neymar\u2019s experience for a 2026 World Cup push.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there\u2019s the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/team\/fc-barcelona-132\">Barcelona<\/a> buzz. Rumors swirl that this short-term Santos deal\u2014set to expire by mid-2025\u2014is a springboard back to Europe. beIN SPORTS reports he\u2019s \u201ceyeing a return to the highest level,\u201d and his Olimpico antics have Xavi\u2019s old club taking notice. Sporting director Deco downplayed it (\u201cnot the moment\u201d), but Neymar\u2019s three goals and viral flair are making the whispers louder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, he\u2019s soaking it in. \u201cI\u2019m enjoying my return,\u201d he told PodPah, hinting at a rediscovered joy for the game. Whether he stays, moves to Barca, or even joins <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Messi<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/player\/luis-suarez-438\">Su\u00e1rez<\/a> at Inter Miami (yes, that\u2019s a rumor too), one thing\u2019s clear: Neymar\u2019s not done yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-whistle-a-spark-reignited\">Final Whistle: A Spark Reignited<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Seven games into his Santos reboot, Neymar\u2019s delivered more than stats\u2014he\u2019s brought the circus back to town. The goals, the assists, the audacity\u2014it\u2019s vintage Neymar with a 2025 twist. Fans are split between \u201che\u2019s back!\u201d and \u201clet\u2019s see,\u201d but the energy\u2019s undeniable. He\u2019s not the kid who left for Barcelona in 2013, but he\u2019s not a relic either. He\u2019s a 33-year-old star with something to prove, and so far, he\u2019s proving it\u2014one Olimpico, one free-kick, one shimmy at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is this the start of a late-career renaissance? Or a fleeting love letter to Santos before the next big move? Grab some popcorn, because Neymar\u2019s second chapter is just getting started\u2014and it\u2019s already a hell of a show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">?Official: Neymar has been called up to the Brazilian National Team once again! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/P8tHEyi7b6\">pic.twitter.com\/P8tHEyi7b6<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1897662872081076496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 6, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Neymar news<\/a> on 365Scores!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Picture this: Neymar Jr., the Brazilian wonderkid turned global superstar, strolling back into Santos FC like a rockstar reclaiming the stage after a decade-long world tour. It\u2019s February 2025, and the 33-year-old icon\u2014once the prince of S\u00e3o Paulo\u2019s Vila Belmiro\u2014has ditched the glitz of Europe and the oil-rich pitches of Saudi Arabia for a return &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":8776,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[1450,1095,1710,164,1396,1461,160,82,812,13,60,310,1302,1716,780,2029],"class_list":["post-8775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-al-hilal","tag-barcelona","tag-botafogo","tag-brazil","tag-busquets","tag-jordi-alba","tag-la-liga","tag-messi","tag-neymar","tag-premier-league","tag-psg","tag-richarlison","tag-rodrygo","tag-santos","tag-suarez","tag-vinicius-jr"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8775\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8776"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}