Neymar's Impact Diminishes at Santos as 5 Sponsors Depart

The commercial glow that accompanied Brazilian Neymar's return to Santos seems to be fading, as the club has lost five of its shirt sponsors in recent weeks, according to the Brazilian newspaper "UOL".

According to the report, the companies that left Santos are Pley By Ney, EQR, Nissei, Álamo, and Corpx. The club has not yet managed to fill all these advertising spaces, as there are currently five vacant spots on the team's jersey. The annual losses resulting from the departure of these companies are estimated at around $20 million, according to the report's sources.

Neymar's return to Santos has raised expectations significantly, as the club management bet on what they called the "Neymar Effect" to increase revenues, attract sponsors, and boost the number of members in the fan program. The number of members indeed reached around 70,000 at the peak of excitement, but it has currently declined to about 50,000.

Santos aimed to reach 100,000 members following the return of their historic star, but current figures reflect the difficulty of sustaining the momentum that accompanied his comeback.

Meanwhile, the club faces the biggest challenge in transforming Neymar's fan popularity into sustainable commercial revenue, moving away from complete reliance on the player's presence.

Despite this commercial setback, Santos saw a significant jump in revenue in 2025, reaching around 678.5 million Brazilian reais, compared to 407 million in 2023 before Neymar's return.

However, the report sees that the real test for the club begins now, as it attempts to prove its ability to attract investments and maintain its commercial value even with the decline of Neymar's impact.