Neymar made his comeback for Santos on Sunday, marking his first appearance since undergoing minor left knee surgery on December 22.
The Brazilian forward entered as a substitute and played 50 minutes during his team’s impressive 6-0 victory over Velo Clube, securing Santos a spot in the quarterfinals of the Campeonato Paulista.
Santos head coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda expressed his satisfaction with Neymar’s performance, even though the 33-year-old missed a notable opportunity to score.
“I believe everyone needs Neymar,” Vojvoda stated after the match. “For Santos, for the national team… [Brazil coach Carlo] Ancelotti will be pleased if he continues to excel. One success leads to another.”
Neymar, who played a pivotal role in keeping Santos from relegation last season, is determined to secure a place on Brazil’s World Cup squad.
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Injuries have kept Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, with 79 goals, off the field for the national team since October 2023.
“He’s a world-class player,” Vojvoda said regarding Neymar.
“His ambition is still strong. I see it in every practice session, in every small-sided game; he wants to compete, and he wants to win. That’s his driving force.”