Neymar Jnr’s emotional return to his boyhood club Santos ended in a 1-1 draw against Botafogo in the Paulista Championship. The match marked Neymar’s first game in 16 months, following a serious knee injury sustained while playing for Brazil last October. The Urbano Caldeira stadium was a sea of emotion – fans, some tearful, welcomed their hero back, illuminating the stands with their phone lights.
Neymar, celebrating his 33rd birthday, started on the bench, entering the fray after halftime. Santos had taken the lead in the first half with a penalty from Tiquinho Soares. Despite the warm welcome, Neymar struggled to recapture the magic that defined his illustrious career at Barcelona. Botafogo equalized in the 67th minute through Alexandre de Jesus.
Although Botafogo’s Wallison was later sent off for a foul on Neymar, Santos couldn’t capitalise on their numerical advantage. “I can’t find the words to express the feeling when you love something,” Neymar shared after the game, as quoted by Reuters. “I love Santos very much and I can’t find the words to describe the feeling I felt when I stepped out onto the pitch today.” He acknowledged the difficulty of the match, noting Botafogo’s strong defensive play.
“It was a very difficult game,” he added. “I had even commented that my father was there on the side. I said, it’s a difficult game, they’re marking a lot at the back, they’re a team that defends a lot, a lot of hitting. And they found a ball and scored.” Neymar emphasised the need for patience and practice. “I think it’s time for me to be patient and get some practice,” he said.
Neymar had previously joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal from Paris St Germain, but his time there was cut short by the knee injury, limiting him to just seven appearances. His return to Santos is seen as a full-circle moment, allowing him to focus on what he loves most: playing football.
Neymar’s comeback attracted a crowd of 20,000 to the Vila Belmiro Stadium. He has signed a six-month contract with Santos, with the possibility of an extension. He played for 52 minutes and despite not scoring, showed flashes of brilliance.
Neymar admitted that he was surprised by how much he ran and expects to be in better form after a few more games. Neymar also talked about the respect that he receives from his home country, illustrated by opposing players wanting to take pictures with him after the match. He previously played 225 games for Santos, scoring 138 goals and winning six titles. He notably did not wear his old number 11, instead sporting the iconic number 10.
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