Neymar concluded his 2026 scoring dry spell in spectacular fashion on Thursday, spearheading Santos to a 2-1 triumph over Vasco da Gama in the fourth fixture of the Brasileirão.
Following the game, the erstwhile Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain luminary confronted his detractors and the growing scrutiny concerning a potential comeback for Brazil at the forthcoming World Cup.
“Merely a week ago, comments suggested I was the poorest performer in the world. Today I netted a brace, and that’s paramount,” Neymar informed Sportv. “Such is the nature of soccer. One day you’re deemed ineffective or ‘hung up your boots’; the next, individuals assert your necessity for the World Cup squad.”
“I’m committing myself and striving diligently to achieve peak physical condition. This was my third appearance of the year and only my second complete match. I experienced some muscle spasms at the conclusion, but that’s just a component of the journey,” Neymar further stated.
Neymar received surgical treatment at the start of 2026 and just lately rejoined the pitch for Santos. Brazil’s head coach has affirmed numerous times that Neymar would be evaluated for inclusion for the World Cup, provided he was in good condition.
Subsequent to netting the initial goal in the 25th minute, the Santos No. 10 marked the occasion by proceeding to the corner area to replicate the identical celebratory move Vinícius Júnior did after finding the net in both stages of Real Madrid’s Champions League elimination round encounter against Benfica.
Vasco equalized prior to the interval, but Neymar netted once more in the second half to secure the win for Santos.
The joyful ambiance for Neymar and Santos fans was momentarily disrupted following a fiery confrontation with Vasco midfielder Thiago Mendes. The tension between Neymar and Mendes originates from 2020, when a tackle by Mendes led to a severe detriment for Neymar during a PSG match against Lyon.
Neymar expressed himself without reserve when addressing the altercation.
“He consistently seeks to instigate problems and project an aggressive demeanor. He already injured me previously at PSG, and he issued another threat to me presently. His conduct is perpetually consistent,” commented Neymar.
These two goals represent Neymar’s initial strikes since December 2025, when he concluded the preceding year with a dual-goal display against Juventude.