Insights from Brazil
Neymar’s career has undeniably declined since he left European football for the financial allure of Saudi Arabia, but this past Sunday marked a new low. The 33-year-old made an emotional return to Santos in January, hoping to revive his career and chase his dream of representing Brazil in the World Cup. Unfortunately, the fairytale is yet to unfold.
In his first start since September, Neymar was visibly upset when substituted in the 85th minute while Santos suffered a 3-0 defeat to Flamengo. His performance raised concerns as he even dropped back to play center-back at one point. Neymar’s visible frustration contrasted sharply with Santos scoring twice after his departure, leading him to accuse the referee of threatening him. Once regarded as one of the world’s top players, Neymar now appears to be further from his prime, and his return to Santos is increasingly viewed as a disaster.
Neymar’s Challenging Return to Santos
Santos, recognized as one of Brazil’s most iconic clubs thanks to legends like Pelé and Neymar, is currently facing significant struggles. According to Thiago Rabelo, a Brazilian football expert at Transfermarkt, “Santos is grappling with a severe financial and administrative crisis and will be hard-pressed to avoid relegation.” He described the club’s current situation as dire compared to other clubs that are progressing positively.
Having just returned to Brazil’s top-flight this season, Santos now finds themselves in jeopardy of relegation from Série A. With only six matches remaining, the team sits within the relegation zone, two points shy of safety, and faces a challenging schedule ahead. Neymar, who has only contributed six goals and three assists this season, has struggled to spark the team’s performance. Rabelo noted, “It’s disheartening for Brazilian football, but Neymar isn’t the player he once was, showing little hope of regaining even half of his former prowess. His performances have been subpar; he can’t make the same runs or outmaneuver defenders, clearly grappling with his diminishing physical and technical abilities. The team isn’t aiding his struggles either.”
Neymar’s statistics underscore his decline, compounded by injuries throughout recent years. Since the 2022 World Cup, he has played only 43 matches, and his production has dramatically decreased since departing PSG. At Barcelona and PSG, Neymar established himself as a prolific attacker, tallying 223 goals and 155 assists, averaging an impressive 1.22 goal contributions per 90 minutes. However, this has plummeted to a mere 0.56 g/a during his tenure at Al-Hilal and Santos.
Will Neymar Make the Brazil Squad for the World Cup?
Neymar’s primary ambition remains representing Brazil in next summer’s World Cup. Although he is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, his chances of making Carlo Ancelotti’s squad appear bleak. The Italian coach has consistently stated that Neymar must reach a high performance level in a competitive league before being considered. With his contract expiring in December, it is likely he will leave Santos if they are relegated, aiming for a return to a major European league to bolster his World Cup prospects. However, he has yet to indicate he can still compete at that level.
Current Brazil captain Casemiro recently emphasized that Neymar should be included in the squad, provided he regains his form. “For me, Neymar is indispensable for any national team,” said the Manchester United star. “If he’s in form, he would be crucial for us in the World Cup. Neymar is simply extraordinary, and I know from experience that he works incredibly hard day in and day out.”
