Neymar is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his return to his boyhood club in 2025 has come full circle.
The 33-year-old attacking midfielder announced in January 2025 his return to Santos, where he started his pro club career in 2009.
His homecoming was supposed to be a celebration of nostalgia and new hope, but his return to a familiar pitch turned into a heartbreak.
Santos’s crushing 0-6 loss to Vasco de Gama on August 18, 2025, was so devastating that Neymar cried in anger, a raw emotion that instantly went viral.
This wasn’t just about one match – it was about a superstar reconnecting with his Brazilian roots, bearing the weight of a fan base, and facing the realities of football’s unpredictability.
Neymar’s journey comes full circle
| Club | Years | Appearances (Total) | Goals (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santos | 2009-2013 | 225 | 136 |
| Barcelona | 2013-2017 | 186 | 105 |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2017-2023 | 173 | 118 |
| Al-Hilal | 2023-2025 | 7 | 1 |
| Santos | 2025-Present | 18 | 6 |
| Career Total | 2009-Present | 609 | 366 |
From prodigy to global superstar and back
Neymar burst onto the scene with Santos in 2009 as a teenage prodigy, helping the club win the Copa Libertadores in 2011, the club’s first since the Pele era.
In Europe, Neymar rose to become one of the world’s greatest footballers.
With Barcelona, he formed the iconic “MSN” trio alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, winning the Champions League in 2015.
His €222-million move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 shattered transfer records, making him the most expensive player in history.
At PSG, Neymar took domestic dominance to another level as he led the team to a Champions League final in 2020.
Neymar and Santos fans form an unbreakable bond
There are only a few player-club relationships that run as deep as Neymar’s and Santos’s in modern football.
For his supporters, Neymar isn’t just a superstar – he’s become one of their own, someone who carried the spirit of Brazilian flair onto the world stage.
The 5-foot-9 dynamo’s return sparked immense excitement, as fans lined up for jerseys, tickets, and even traveled from abroad to witness history in the making.
However, the current stop at Santos isn’t the powerhouse that it was when Neymar first left. The club is rebuilding, struggling in a competitive domestic league.
It’s a reminder that loyalty and roots matter in a sport often associated with money and player transfers.
Neymar’s battles for flag and country with Brazil
| Year | Appearances (Total) | Goals (Total) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | 1 |
| 2011 | 13 | 7 |
| 2012 | 12 | 9 |
| 2013 | 19 | 10 |
| 2014 | 14 | 15 |
| 2015 | 9 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 |
| 2017 | 8 | 3 |
| 2018 | 13 | 7 |
| 2019 | 5 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 | 3 |
| 2021 | 13 | 6 |
| 2022 | 8 | 7 |
| 2023 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | 128 | 79 |
Legend returns home: Neymar in a global perspective
Neymar’s return is part of a larger football tradition – a legend is going back to where it all began.
Brazilian icons like Ronaldinho, Kaka, and Adriano all ended their careers in their home clubs. A return often symbolizes closure, nostalgia, and connection with the fans who nurtured them.
Globally, there are parallels drawn here with Cristiano Ronaldo‘s second stint at Manchester United or Lionel Messi‘s long-rumored return to Newell’s Old Boys.
These homecomings transcend competition; they are about legacy, identity, and cultural heritage.
For Neymar, coming back to Santos is both personal and universal. It shows that no matter how far a career takes a player – to Barcelona, Paris, or the world stage – there’s an unbreakable pull to home.
Neymar’s tears of anger: Pressure, passion, and Brazilian culture
The viral images of Neymar crying after their 0-6 loss to Vasco weren’t signs of weakness – they were reflections of Brazilian football’s unique culture.
In Brazil, football is life. Heroes aren’t just expected to perform; they’re expected to carry the spirit of the people
For Neymar, pressure has followed him in his entire career – from his early comparisons to Pele to carrying Brazil’s hope in World Cups.
His tears showed fans that he still cares deeply, that his connection to Santos is not symbolic but visceral.
In a sport often dominated by financial headlines and social media narratives, Neymar’s emotional display reminded the world of football’s humanity.
Neymar’s list of awards
- FIFA Ballon d’Or/Ballon d’Or 3rd place: 2015, 2017
- FIFA The Best Men’s Player 3rd place: 2017
- FIFA Puskás Award: 2011
- FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2015, 2017
- IFFHS Men’s World Team: 2017
- ESM Team of the Year: 2017–18
- UEFA Forward of the Season 3rd place: 2019–20
- UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2014–15 (tied with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi)
- UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2015–16, 2016–17
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2015, 2020
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2014–15, 2019–20, 2020–21
- FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2011
- FIFA Club World Cup top assist provider:Â 2015
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot:Â 2014
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team:Â 2014
- FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball:Â 2013
- FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze Shoe: 2013
- FIFA Confederations Cup Dream Team: 2013
- Copa América Best Player: 2021(joint with Messi)
- Copa América Team of the Tournament: 2021
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2017–18
- Ligue 1 top assist provider: 2017–18[250]
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21
- La Liga Best American Player: 2014–15
- Copa del Rey top scorer: 2014–15
- Copa Libertadores Best Player: 2011
- Copa Libertadores top scorer: 2012 (tied with MatÃas Alustiza)
- South American Footballer of the Year: 2011, 2012
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Player: 2011
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2010, 2011, 2012
- Copa do Brasil top scorer:Â 2010
- Campeonato Paulista top scorer:Â 2012
- IFFHS World’s Best Player of the Decade 4th place: 2011–2020
- IFFHS CONMEBOL The Best Man Player of the Decade 2nd place: 2011–2020
- IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
- Globe Soccer Player Career Award: 2024
- Chuteira de Ouro: 2010, 2011, 2012
- Bola de Prata: 2010, 2011
- Bola de Ouro:Â 2011
- Troféu Mesa Redonda Best Player: 2011, 2012
- World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 2011
- Bola de Ouro Hors Concours:Â 2012
- Samba Gold: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022
- La Liga Player of the Month:Â November 2015
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: January 2020, August 2022
- South American U-20 Championship top scorer:Â 2011
Santos’s struggles: How to cope with rebuilding and coaching change amid Neymar’s outburst
Santos aptly responded to Neymar’s outburst, firing head coach Cleber Xavier amid the club’s precarious situation.
The 61-year-old leaves as Santos sits just two points above the relegation zone after he took over in April 2025.
Xavier’s stint saw Santos post just five victories from 15 matches, unable to steer the club clear of the league’s lower reaches.
While one player alone cannot fix anything, Neymar has the opportunity to be a bridge between Santos’s past glories and its future ambitions.
With the relegation battle intensifying, Santos must regroup immediately, with Neymar back leading the way, but under a new coach, to reverse their fortunes.
Looking ahead: Neymar’s legacy beyond 2025
Neymar’s story with Santos continues to be written. The club’s recent stinging loss may have been a painful beginning, but it doesn’t define the entire chapter.
What matters is what comes next: can Neymar lead Santos back to domestic or continental relevance? Can he inspire a resurgence in Brazilian league prestige worldwide?
Future generations will see his homecoming as a lesson that greatness isn’t only about chasing the silverware of more money – it’s about identity and connection.
Even if this chapter ends without any trophy, Neymar’s decision to come home will always be remembered as one of football’s defining moments.
See Also:
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- Neymar scores first corner kick goal in response to jeering fans
- Neymar wants to sign long-term contract with Santos – father
Why Neymar’s return will always matter
Neymar’s return to Santos is more than just a sporting headline – it’s a story of roots, loyalty, and legacy.
The tearful moment after the 0-6 defeat against Vasco will go down as one of the most iconic images of his career, not because of the scoreline, but because of the humanity it revealed.
For Santos, Neymar’s presence is a revival and a reminder of their historical weight.
For Brazil, it’s proof that football remains as the country’s emotional heartbeat.
Neymar’s homecoming at Santos will endure in football history – proof that sometimes, the greatest victories aren’t measured on the scoreboard, but in the stories that last a lifetime.
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