Angry Tears Throttle Neymar, Once a Shining Sports Star
In the world of Brazilian football, Neymar has been facing a tough time recently with his team Santos. The 33-year-old forward has been grappling with a combination of physical fragility, emotional stress from team performances, and fan frustration.
Over the past year, Neymar has played very few full matches, with only three games across all competitions until July 2025. This physical fragility and potential fitness issues have disrupted his overall match rhythm, leading to a prolonged period of subpar performances.
The lack of continuity in playing time has coincided with Santos suffering heavy defeats, such as a 6-0 loss to Vasco da Gama in August 2025 - the worst defeat of Neymar’s career. This significant setback brought Vasco within two points of Neymar’s team and visibly upset the forward, contributing to a poor team atmosphere.
The fans' dissatisfaction with Neymar’s performances has manifested in direct confrontations and jeers from supporters, indicating mounting pressure and criticism at the club. However, Neymar did have moments of impact, such as scoring two goals and earning Man of the Match in early August 2025, showing flashes of his quality when fit and focused.
Notably, Philippe Coutinho, another Brazilian footballer, contributed a double pack for Vasco da Gama in the same match, further intensifying the pressure on Neymar and his team. After the game, Neymar expressed his anger and frustration, calling the performance a "disgrace."
Coach Cleber Xavier was dismissed by Vasco da Gama following the defeat against Neymar’s team. Meanwhile, Neymar’s last international match was under coach Fernando Diniz, who consoled him after the game.
Neymar has not recovered from a severe knee injury he sustained in an international match against Uruguay on October 17, 2023. This injury has added to his struggles on the pitch, and he has admitted that he has never felt as lost on the pitch as he did in this game.
The defeat occurred against Rio club Vasco da Gama, which is one rank lower in the league. Neymar has experienced two 0-4 defeats in his career: one with FC Santos in the 2011 World Club Final against FC Barcelona and the other with the Catalans in the 2017 Champions League against Paris St. Germain.
As Neymar continues to struggle with his form and fitness, the future remains uncertain for both him and Santos. The team will need to rally around their star player and find a way to turn their fortunes around if they are to challenge for honours in the upcoming seasons.
Community policy could be implemented to address the growing unrest among Santos fans, potentially creating a more supportive and understanding environment for the struggling Neymar.
Given his persistent weakness in sports, particularly football, an employment policy review might be beneficial for Neymar, considering the impact of frequent injuries on his career and team performances.
