Neymar has expressed how his return to Santos is helping him “rediscover joy” as he continues to recover from an injury-riddled period. The 33-year-old forward marked his comeback with a memorable goal, scoring from the penalty spot in Santos’ 3-1 victory over Agua Santa on Sunday, ending a 16-month goal drought.
“I’m happy to be playing again. I feel like I’m improving,” Neymar shared after the match. His return to the Brazilian club comes after a difficult stint at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, where a knee injury saw him make just seven appearances before his contract was mutually terminated.
While Neymar acknowledged he’s not yet back to full fitness—this was just his fourth game since returning—he expressed optimism: “I’m getting better and better. I was anxious to score and wanted to dedicate this goal to the fans and my family.”
Neymar’s time at Al-Hilal came after a £77.6m transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2023. However, his time in Saudi Arabia was short-lived due to the knee injury that sidelined him for much of the season.
Santos holds special significance for Neymar, who first made his senior debut for the club at the age of 17 in 2009. During his first stint, he scored 136 goals and provided 64 assists in 225 matches before moving to Barcelona in 2013 for £48.6m. At Barcelona, he won eight trophies, including the Champions League and two La Liga titles. His career then took him to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a world-record £200m, where he collected 13 more trophies before his move to Saudi Arabia.
In addition to his club success, Neymar became Brazil’s all-time leading male goalscorer with 78 goals, though he hasn’t featured for the national team since his injury in October 2023.
Reflecting on his return to Santos, Neymar shared his gratitude: “We’re helping each other, Santos are helping me. They’ve opened doors for me to rediscover football, to rediscover joy.” He also explained his decision to sign a short-term contract until June 30: “I didn’t want to sign a long contract because I wasn’t sure how I would come back or how I would feel. Let’s enjoy these moments; it’s the start of a great era for Santos.”
