Brazil Superstar Neymar Left in Tears After Suffering the Heaviest Defeat of His Career, Video
- Neymar wept on the pitch after Santos suffered a humiliating 6-0 home defeat to rivals Vasco da Gama
- Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho inspired Vasco with a brace in their biggest league win in 17 years
- Santos coach Cleber Xavier was sacked hours after the embarrassing loss
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Brazil superstar Neymar endured one of the darkest nights of his career after Santos suffered a humiliating 6-0 home defeat to Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian Serie A.
The result meant the former Barcelona star not only the heaviest defeat he has ever faced but also the first time Santos had conceded six goals at home in the competition’s history.
Source: Getty Images
Neymar, who returned to his boyhood club earlier this year after his spell with Al-Hilal, could not hold back tears as he left the pitch.
Speaking after the match, the Brazil forward admitted the emotions stemmed from frustration and shame, BBC reports.
“I’m ashamed,” he confessed. “I’m totally disappointed with our performance. The fans have every right to protest, obviously without using violence.
“The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I can’t help in every way. I think everyone today needs to go home and think about what they want to do.”
Santos sacks coach after embarrassing loss
The fallout from the historic defeat was immediate, as Santos sacked coach Cleber Xavier just hours after the match, Sportstar reports.
The 61-year-old, who only took charge in April, managed just five wins in 15 games, and his dismissal came with Santos languishing in 15th place on the table, just two points above the relegation zone.
“The club thanks the coach for the services provided and wishes him luck in the continuation of his career,” Santos said in an official statement.
Source: Getty Images
Once a dominant force in Brazilian football and the club of legends like Pelé, Santos are now fighting to avoid dropping back into Serie B just a year after earning promotion.
Coutinho inspires Vasco’s historic win
For Vasco da Gama, the night was one of jubilation and former Liverpool and Aston Villa forward Philippe Coutinho rolled back the years with two goals to inspire his side to their first win in six league games.
The 6-0 win was also Vasco’s biggest victory in the league for 17 years, lifting them out of the relegation zone.
Coutinho’s resurgence added to Neymar’s misery and highlighted the stark contrast between both teams on the night.
What lies ahead for Neymar and Santos
Despite his disappointment, Neymar remains a key figure at Santos, having scored six goals and provided three assists in 21 appearances since his return.
However, with the club in crisis, questions are growing about whether even Brazil’s all-time leading scorer can rescue them from getting relegated.
Neymar in tears after injury setback
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that Neymar’s highly anticipated return to Al Hilal in November 2024 came to an abrupt end after he suffered another injury during Monday's AFC Champions League match against Esteghlal FC that left him in tears.
The 32-year-old, who signed with the Saudi Pro League club in a lucrative deal reportedly worth £378,000 per day, made just seven appearances for the Saudi Arabian club.
Source: Legit.ng
