Calcio Mercato confirmed that Neymar, the Santos club star, was behind saving his team from relegation to the second division in the Brazilian league after a 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro in the final round. The Brazilian player stood out despite suffering from a meniscus injury in his left knee, scoring five goals and assisting one in the last four matches, leading the team to survival in the final moments of the season.

After the match, Neymar indicated that he came to help the team in the best possible way, adding: "Now it’s time to rest and undergo meniscus surgery," confirming that he played the entire match despite severe pain.

Neymar revealed that he went through a psychological breakdown after the loss against Flamengo before a series of positive results, saying: "The situation was bigger than me; I didn’t feel I had the strength to stand up again," explaining that he sought the support of a psychologist to overcome the difficult phase before the team started its winning streak.

Reports highlighted Neymar’s direct contribution to the team’s comeback, as he scored a goal in the 1-1 draw against Mirassol, scored and assisted a goal against Sport, and netted a hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Juventude, ensuring Santos stayed clear of the relegation zone.

Neymar was injured in the November 20 match against Mirassol, which raised expectations that his season would end early, but he returned to participate in the last matches despite doctors’ advice, confirming that the decision was made in coordination with the medical staff to ensure his career was not put at risk.

Neymar’s participation in the 2026 World Cup remains awaited, with Carlo Ancelotti, the national team coach, stating that everything depends on the player’s physical condition and level compared to his teammates, a possibility that has become more realistic after Neymar’s heroic performance that helped his team remain in the top division.