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’s February 2025, and the 33-year-old icon—once the prince of São Paulo’s Vila Belmiro—has 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’s decision to rejoin his boyhood club feels like a fever dream—a cocktail of nostalgia, redemption, and a sprinkle of “what the hell is he up to now?”
Since touching down in Brazil in late January, Neymar’s 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’s dive into Neymar’s Santos sequel—how he’s performing, what the fans are saying, and whether the magic still flickers in those famous feet.
Neymar has now scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists in 7 games since his return to Santos! 🤯🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/1KHHlOtb0p
— 365Scores (@365Scores) March 3, 2025
Neymar: The Return
The Comeback Kid: Performance So Far
Neymar’s return kicked off on February 5, 2025, against Botafogo-SP in the Campeonato Paulista, Brazil’s state league that’s equal parts chaotic and charming. Coming off the bench, he didn’t score, didn’t assist, but still managed to remind everyone why he’s Neymar—dribbling past defenders like they were traffic cones and flashing that trademark grin. The stat sheet stayed quiet, but the vibes were loud. Santos won, and the crowd roared like it was 2012 all over again.
Fast forward a few weeks, and the numbers are starting to pop. In seven appearances—six starts—Neymar has notched three goals and three assists, a tidy haul for a guy who hadn’t 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’s 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.
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—his third in four games—sent Santos to the Paulista semifinals and had analysts nodding: maybe, just maybe, the old Neymar isn’t gone.
Physically, he’s not the sprightly teenager who terrorised defenses a decade ago. The knee injury—an ACL and meniscus tear from October 2023—still lingers in the cautious way he moves at times. He’s subbed off early in most games, and against Bragantino, he asked to come off, sparking a brief injury scare (he later posted on Instagram: “I’m fine, just sparing myself!”). But the skill? Untouched. The vision? Still razor-sharp. He’s averaging a goal contribution every 90 minutes, and Santos’ attack—11 goals in their last four games—has him at the heart of it.
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’ elimination in the Paulista semi-final. There were reports of a minor injury and Ney himself took it to Instagram to claim that “He wanted nothing more than to be on the pitch” but when you look at the calendar and see that it’s his sister’s birthday right around the corner, you can’t help to wonder if it had something to do with that.
Fan Frenzy: From Skeptics to Believers
When Neymar’s return was announced, Santos fans didn’t know whether to pop champagne or brace for disappointment. This wasn’t the fresh-faced 17-year-old who’d 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. “Many experts figured his best days were behind him,” wrote Marca’s team, echoing the skepticism that greeted his January 31 free transfer from Al Hilal.
The early days didn’t 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: “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we’re improving, getting stronger… I have faith in this team.” The doubters stayed loud—until that Olimpico.
That goal flipped the script. Santos’ Vila Belmiro erupted, and social media lit up with fans losing their minds. “O NEYMAR METEU UM GOL OLÍMPICO! NÃO É POSSÍVEL!” 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. “He’s still got it,” one fan posted on X. “This is why we love him,” 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.
It’s not all blind adoration. Some still grumble about his fitness—he’s yet to play a full 90—or his complaints about the Paulista’s “really bad” Penalty match ball. But the tide’s turning. Attendance is up, jerseys are flying off shelves, and the “Neymar effect” is palpable. As beIN SPORTS put it, “He’s proving in every match that he can still make a difference.”
Stats That Tell the Story
Let’s break it down numerically:
- Games Played: 7 (6 starts, 1 sub appearance)
- Minutes: ~450 (averaging 64 per game)
- Goals: 3 (1 penalty, 1 Olimpico, 1 free-kick)
- Assists: 3
- Goal Contributions per 90: 1.0
- Santos Record Since Return: 5 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss
Compare that to his Al Hilal tenure—7 games in 18 months, 1 goal, 3 assists—and it’s night and day. At Santos, he’s not just playing; he’s playing. His six-goal contributions in seven games match his entire Saudi output, and he’s 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’s over 50% of their recent attacking output tied to one man.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next?
The underlying numbers dazzle too. Against Inter de Limeira, he had a hand in all three goals. His dribbles—those audacious, ankle-breaking feints—still leave defenders grasping air. He’s not at his Barcelona or PSG peak, but for a Brazilian state league, he’s a cut above, a Ferrari revving through a parking lot.
Neymar’s Santos stint isn’t just a homecoming—it’s a proving ground. After 17 months sidelined from Brazil’s national team, his form earned a call-up for the March 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina. “I’m getting back into my best physical shape,” he said after the Bragantino goal, and coach Dorival Júnior seems to agree, banking on Neymar’s experience for a 2026 World Cup push.
Then there’s the Barcelona buzz. Rumors swirl that this short-term Santos deal—set to expire by mid-2025—is a springboard back to Europe. beIN SPORTS reports he’s “eyeing a return to the highest level,” and his Olimpico antics have Xavi’s old club taking notice. Sporting director Deco downplayed it (“not the moment”), but Neymar’s three goals and viral flair are making the whispers louder.
For now, he’s soaking it in. “I’m enjoying my return,” he told PodPah, hinting at a rediscovered joy for the game. Whether he stays, moves to Barca, or even joins Messi and Suárez at Inter Miami (yes, that’s a rumor too), one thing’s clear: Neymar’s not done yet.
Final Whistle: A Spark Reignited
Seven games into his Santos reboot, Neymar’s delivered more than stats—he’s brought the circus back to town. The goals, the assists, the audacity—it’s vintage Neymar with a 2025 twist. Fans are split between “he’s back!” and “let’s see,” but the energy’s undeniable. He’s not the kid who left for Barcelona in 2013, but he’s not a relic either. He’s a 33-year-old star with something to prove, and so far, he’s proving it—one Olimpico, one free-kick, one shimmy at a time.
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’s second chapter is just getting started—and it’s already a hell of a show.
🚨Official: Neymar has been called up to the Brazilian National Team once again! pic.twitter.com/P8tHEyi7b6
— 365Scores (@365Scores) March 6, 2025
By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)
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