Neymar stood at the corner flag, the opposing crowd still raining jeers, when he struck the ball with a pinpoint curl that looped into the net untouched. An Olimpico goal, his first ever, had just unfolded in front of shocked fans and delighted teammates.
He never seemed rattled by the hostility. If anything, the boos fueled him. Having rejoined Santos in the Campeonato Paulista, Neymar brought back the flair that once propelled him to global stardom. Few imagined he’d top his early corner-kick assist to Tiquinho Soares in the eighth minute, at least in this game.
But in the 27th, he calmly prepared for another corner, aimed directly at the near post, and watched the ball sail in. The crowd fell silent as he celebrated with a knowing smile, echoing a celebration style reminiscent of no other than CR7.
Meanwhile, longtime friend and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez reacted with an astonished emoji, seemingly at a loss for words.
Neymar capped off the night with another assist, this time to Soares in the 32nd minute, ensuring Santos closed out a convincing 3-0 victory. His performance underscored that the return to his boyhood club is more than a nostalgic footnote.
Within a single month, he has netted more goals and assists than during his entire time at Al Hilal. Injuries had hampered his performance in Saudi Arabia, and consistent match fitness was elusive. Now, in his home environment, he seems liberated, converting chances, setting up teammates, and rediscovering the fluid style that had been missing for so long.
Even after a career filled with dazzling goals, this one felt different, precisely because it arrived under pressure and on home soil. Those in attendance will likely talk about this Olimpico for years. At 33, Neymar is still delivering moments that remind everyone why his every touch remains so magnetic.
Ney is back, in a big, big way.
