Neymar Jr. made a brilliant return to the pitch, putting the disappointment of the 2026 FIFA World Cup behind him. However, despite his two goals, Santos still couldn’t secure the win.
Santos drew 2-2 with Chapecoense in a Brazilian Serie A match on Saturday night. Santos sit 14th in the table with 22 points from 20 matches.
Neymar led the attack for the full 90 minutes at the Estádio Urbano Caldeira (Vila Belmiro), opening the scoring in the 36th minute to give Santos the lead.
Chapecoense equalized in the 51st minute after the break, and Santos fell behind in the 62nd minute following an own goal by João Basso. Neymar, however, leveled the score late in the match with a penalty, and the game ultimately ended 2-2.
Neymar took 9 shots during the match, 5 of which were on target. Alongside his two goals, he earned a 9.4 rating on SofaScore, with an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.20.
Neymar played a key role in the attack beyond just scoring, completing 48 of his 62 attempted passes. In the opposition’s half specifically, he completed 45 of 59 passes and also created two key chances.
This marked Neymar’s first match since Brazil’s elimination against Norway at the 2026 World Cup. His brace served as a strong signal that he had regained his rhythm, putting the disappointment of the national team’s exit behind him upon returning to club football.
Neymar has now scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists in 9 matches in the current Brazilian league season. He has also created 19 key chances and taken 30 shots, 12 of which were on target. From the penalty spot, Neymar remains perfect this season, converting both of his attempts.
Despite the missed win, Neymar’s performance offered a reassuring sign for Santos fans. Once again, he demonstrated from the heart of the attack that his ability to change the course of a match remains fully intact when he’s in rhythm.
