Brazil’s Neymar walks onto the pitch during his debut for Santos FC in a Sao Paulo league soccer match against Botafogo-SP, in Santos, Brazil, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
SAO PAULO — Neymar scored his first goal for Santos since returning to Brazil when he converted a penalty Sunday in a 3-1 win over Sao Paulo-based Água Santa.
Finding the online from the spot within the 14th minute of the Sao Paulo state championship match will provide the 33-year-old star some relief after a troublesome restart.
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Thaciano within the twenty sixth and Guilherme, with an assist by Neymar, within the seventieth rounded out the scoring for Santos.
READ: Neymar on Brazil return: ‘Only Santos can provide me love I want’
To date, Neymar has not managed to play all 90 minutes in a match for Santos. His performances were below par in the primary three games for the club, but he showed some improvement on Sunday as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Neymar officially returned to soccer in October after a whole 12 months out.
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He confirmed last month that his contract with Saudi club Al-Hilal had been terminated by mutual consent. He had an injury-marred spell at Al-Hilal, where he played only seven matches and scored once.
READ: Neymar returns to Brasilia club Santos after Saudi stint
Neymar has signed a six-month contract with Santos, which he said might be prolonged later.
In his first skilled spell at Santos from 2009 to 2013, he scored 138 goals in 225 official matches.
The Brazilian became the costliest player in soccer history when he transferred from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros (then $262 million) in 2017. He went to Al-Hilal in 2023 for 90 million euros ($94 million).
