Almost 12 years after last wearing a Santos jersey, Neymar made his emotional return to the club. Though he didn’t produce a dazzling performance, the 33-year-old still walked away with the Man of the Match award.
A packed stadium of nearly 20,000 fans eagerly awaited the moment their hometown hero would step onto the pitch. That moment arrived at the start of the second half—Neymar, donning the iconic No. 10 jersey, walked in to a roaring ovation. The stadium announcer’s voice rang out, amplifying the excitement in the air. Chants, songs, and cheers filled the stands. As the captain’s armband was handed to him, thousands of phones captured the emotional homecoming. Smiles, tears, and pure passion welcomed their beloved star back home.
It was the perfect setting for Neymar’s return—back at the club where his journey to global stardom began, back in Brazil, and fittingly, on his 33rd birthday.
Despite the fairytale homecoming, Neymar couldn’t quite light up the game. He showed glimpses of his magic but struggled with sharpness. Still, it was enough to earn him the Man of the Match award.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw between Santos and Botafogo in the Paulista Championship.
The Santos crowd had filled the stands long before kickoff, eager to witness Neymar’s return. But with the star still regaining match fitness after a long injury layoff, they had to wait patiently. Finally, at the start of the second half, he entered as a substitute.
Over the years, Neymar has worn different numbers at Santos—18, 7, and 11. This time, he was given the legendary No. 10 jersey, a number forever linked to club icon Pelé. As he stepped onto the field, he raised his hands toward the sky in gratitude.
After months on the sidelines, Neymar showed signs of rust. He tried to produce moments of brilliance, even coming close to scoring when he weaved past two defenders and fired a shot on goal. But the Botafogo keeper denied him with a great save. He also created two more scoring chances with clever passes, but neither resulted in a goal.
Santos had taken the lead in the first half with a penalty, but Botafogo equalized in the 67th minute.
As soon as the final whistle blew, opposition players rushed to Neymar—some to chat, others to take pictures with him.
Regardless of his performance, the night was already unforgettable. Playing for Santos again meant everything to him.
“I don’t even have words to describe what it feels like to do something you truly love,” Neymar said. “I love Santos with all my heart, and when I stepped onto the field today, I felt something that I can’t put into words.”
He believes his form will improve with more game time.
“It was a tough match. My dad was in the stadium, and I had told him beforehand that this would be a difficult game. They defend really well and sit deep, so I have to be patient and keep training hard.”
“I need more minutes, more matches. I’m still not at 100%. I didn’t expect to run a lot or dribble too much tonight. I think after four or five games, I’ll feel much better.”
