Neymar played, this Sunday (22), his first full game of the season for Santos. The star’s presence, however, did not prevent the defeat against Novorizontino and, consequently, the elimination at Paulistão 2026. In fact, he had a considerable role in the adverse score for the Vila Belmiro team.
The first goal of the match came from Neymar’s feet, scored by Rômulo. The number 10 missed a pass and lost possession of the ball in the defense field, very close to Gabriel Brazão’s goal. Novorizontino stole the ball and scored. After the play, Neymar was seen talking to his teammates and saying that “it was my mistake”.
Neymar’s mistake could have been crucial to the final result, but Gabriel Bontempo, who came on in the second half replacing his namesake Gabriel Menino, gave Santos fans hope again. In the 19th minute of the second half, he took advantage of a pass from Gabigol and shot into the right corner to tie the match.
The game went to penalties until, in the 50th minute, Léo Naldi ended the beach team’s hopes. After a great play by striker Vinícius Paiva, the midfielder beat the marking and headed the ball into the back of Gabriel Brazão’s net.
This was only Neymar’s second game of the season, being the first in which he played the full 90 minutes. Before that, he had already taken part in the rout of Velo Clube, also for Paulistão, in a match held last Sunday (15). The star took to the field from the bench. He was recovering from one and his physical condition raises the question of whether he will be fit to defend the World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States.
With agency
