After scoring two goals in Santos' 2-1 victory over Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian league on Thursday evening, star Neymar da Silva spoke candidly about a difficult season in which he faced harsh criticism, affirming that the fluctuations in evaluations in football have become part of the daily game.

Neymar said in statements after the match that some had described him in recent weeks as the "worst player in the world," commenting: "I think I played better in the last match. But today I scored two goals, and that's what matters. In football, one day you're not good enough, and the next day you're asked to go to the World Cup."

He added that he lives every day as an opportunity to improve his level after returning from a knee injury that required surgery at the end of 2025.

Regarding his chances of returning to the Brazilian national team and competing for a spot in the 2026 World Cup, Neymar said he is focusing on working and improving his fitness, despite feeling exhausted in the final minutes of the match because it was one of his few games this season.

Neymar's return to the scoring sheet came at an important time, not only for his team, which has moved out of the relegation zone, but also to reignite the discussion about his role in the Samba team ahead of the World Cup finals in the summer. He is racing against time to prove that he is still the best option in the attacking line.