Remembering Neymar's Best Matches with Santos 🔥

Remembering Neymar’s Best Matches with Santos 🔥

Posted by author February 2, 2025 Sports

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

“Neymar, Neymar, Neymar, Neymar” 🎵

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior played for Santos’ main team from March 7, 2009, to May 26, 2013.

The hiatus from the club that discovered him ended with his confirmed return.

He won’t face São Paulo this Saturday (1st), but his re-debut shouldn’t take long.

Memorable Performances

He boasts 225 matches with 136 goals, 64 assists, and six titles while dazzling in Brazil and South America with Peixe.

The now new number 10 for Santos was twice the top scorer in Brazilian football in a season – with over 40 goals each time.

And twice named the “King of America,” for example.

There were plenty of historic games with Neymar wearing the Peixe jersey.

It’s time to remember the main ones.

This list (compiled by ge), which, depending on the star and the Santos fans, will soon be expanded.

Santos 10 🆚 1 Naviraiense – Copa do Brasil 2010

Santos, who would win the Copa do Brasil for the first time in its history, breezed past the Mato Grosso team to advance to the tournament’s second phase.

Neymar scored twice – one of them leaving three opponents behind – and contributed three assists.

Santos lineup: Felipe; Maranhão, Edu Dracena (Giovanni), Durval, and Pará; Arouca, Marquinhos, and Ganso; Neymar, Robinho (Madson), and André (Zé Love). Coach: Dorival Júnior.

Santos 8 🆚 1 Guarani – Copa do Brasil 2010

Another thrashing by Peixe on their way to the title – this time in the round of 16.

With a feat he would never repeat – at least not yet.

He scored FIVE goals against Bugre. And many dances to celebrate.

Santos lineup: Felipe; Wesley, Edu Dracena (Pará), Durval, and Léo (Madson); Arouca, Marquinhos, and Ganso; Robinho, Neymar, and André (Marcel). Coach: Dorival Júnior

Santos 4 🆚 1 Athletico – Brasileirão 2011

“Before the game, Antônio Lopes (coach) took a newspaper with Neymar on the cover, tore it, stepped on it, and said: “today, this guy here does nothing”.

The then midfielder Paulo Baier would reveal how the pre-match talk by the Hurricane’s coach went before the duel against Peixe.

The problem is that the “Delegado’s” wish did not come true.

Neymar would score SIX goals. But two were disallowed for offside.

He left that game with “only” four.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Danilo, Edu Dracena (Bruno Aguiar), Bruno Rodrigo, and Durval; Adriano, Arouca (Ibson), and Henrique; Neymar, Rentería (Diogo), and Alan Kardec. Coach: Muricy Ramalho.

Santos 2 🆚 0 Vitória – Copa do Brasil 2010

Neymar missed the penalty he suffered himself by attempting a chip shot.

But it was his goal that opened the scoring at Vila.

There were still plenty of goal chances created by number 11.

Peixe would win the competition in the first national final played by the star.

He was also the top scorer with 11 goals.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Pará, Bruno Aguiar, Durval, and Alex Sandro; Arouca, Wesley, and Ganso (Marquinhos); Neymar, Robinho (Zé Love), and André (Marcel). Coach: Dorival Júnior

Santos 8 🆚 0 Bolívar – Libertadores 2012

Peixe struggled with the altitude and the strong tackles from the Bolivian team in La Paz.

Neymar was hit in the face by objects thrown by Bolívar fans.

And was targeted by provocations from the rival coach.

It was the first leg of the round of 16.

Fate would be cruel to Bolívar in the return: they lost 8-0 at Vila.

Neymar scored two and contributed three assists.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Henrique, Edu Dracena, Durval, and Juan; Adriano, Arouca (Ibson), Elano (Felipe Anderson), and Ganso; Neymar and Alan Kardec (Borges). Coach: Muricy Ramalho.

📸 YASUYOSHI CHIBA – 2012 AFP

Santos 2 🆚 3 Santo André – Paulistão 2010

Peixe lost that game.

But that was just a “detail,” as Neymar & Co. won that Paulistão.

It was Neymar’s first title with the Santos jersey.

With him scoring both goals against Ramalhão even under marking that made his life very difficult.

Santos lineup: Felipe; Pará, Edu Dracena, Durval, and Léo; Rodrigo Mancha, Arouca, Marquinhos, and Ganso; Neymar (Roberto Brum) and Robinho (André). Coach: Dorival Júnior.

Cruzeiro 0 🆚 4 Santos – Brasileirão 2012

Neymar played so well that… he was applauded by the Raposa fans at Arena Independência.

He scored two goals in the 1st half, assisted the third, and completed a hat-trick in the second half.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Rafael Galhardo, Bruno Rodrigo, Durval, and Juan (Gérson Magrão); Adriano, Arouca, and Henrique; Felipe Anderson, Neymar, and André (Miralles). Coach: Muricy Ramalho

Santos 3 🆚 1 Inter – Libertadores 2012

Neymar was celebrating three years since his professional debut.

And decided to put Inter in his pocket in a group stage match of that Libertadores.

He scored all three goals for Peixe at Vila.

One of them was an incredible run from the Santos defensive field, overcoming Guinãzu, Bolatti, Moledo, and Muriel.

Not even the talent of Oscar, Dagoberto, and Damião up front made a difference for Colorado at Vila.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Fucile (Bruno Rodrigo), Edu Dracena, Durval, and Juan; Arouca, Henrique, Ibson (Elano), and Ganso; Neymar and Borges (Alan Kardec). Coach: Muricy Ramalho.

Santos 4 🆚 5 Flamengo – Brasileirão 2011

Neymar and Ronaldinho Gaúcho were protagonists of one of the greatest matches in Brasileirão history.

Few Santos fans remember the defeat, as Neymar played (a lot of) ball.

He scored two goals and provided an assist.

The most memorable play was undoubtedly the goal that tore through the Flamengo defense with a “dribble da vaca.”

A goal that would earn him the Puskas.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Pará, Edu Dracena, Durval, and Léo; Arouca, Elano (Alan Kardec), Ibson, and Ganso; Neymar and Borges. Coach: Muricy Ramalho.

Santos 2 🆚 1 Peñarol – Libertadores Final 2011

Closely watched by Pelé, Neymar made all the difference for Santos to win the much-desired third Copa Libertadores trophy.

He scored the first goal of the match against the Uruguayan team – which made his life difficult.

The number 11 was writing the most important chapter of his career.

Santos lineup: Rafael; Danilo, Edu Dracena, and Léo (Alex Sandro); Adriano, Arouca, Elano, and Ganso (Pará); Neymar and Zé Love. Coach: Muricy Ramalho.