Neymar became emotional on Sunday night. He shed tears after playing through a painful knee injury. His efforts helped Santos avoid relegation. They secured a crucial 3-0 win over Cruzeiro. This happened on the final day of the Brazilian Serie A season.

Neymar, 33, rejoined Santos in January. He has struggled with a meniscus and knee problem all year. Despite this, he continued playing in the final crucial matches.

His reaction at the final whistle captured the club’s dramatic escape. Neymar dropped to his knees in the centre circle. He then applauded the home supporters at Vila Belmiro. This image became iconic for fans.

Santos Secures Survival

Santos nearly faced only their second relegation in 112 years. Following Sunday’s result, they climbed to 12th place with 47 points. Thaciano scored twice, in the 26th and 28th minutes. J. Schmidt added the third goal shortly after the hour mark.

Neymar scored eight goals in 19 games this season. He delivered key performances in the final stretch. These included a hat trick against Juventude. He also scored against Sport Recife. Both were 3-0 victories.

Neymar’s Injury Battle and Future Hopes

After the match, Neymar spoke about his injury’s physical toll. He stated, “I came to help in the best way possible. These weeks have been very tough for me. I thank everyone who supported me. Without them, I wouldn’t have played these matches due to my knee problem. I now need rest, and then I will undergo knee surgery.”

Neymar did not reveal his surgery date. However, he hopes to return to the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup. National coach Carlo Ancelotti has not selected him since taking over in May. Yet, his recent form has sparked new talks about his international future.

On his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Neymar shared match images. He wrote in Portuguese, “Deus, OBRIGADO!🙏”. This translates to “God, Thank You.”

A Return to Roots

Neymar began his professional career at Santos. He later moved to Barcelona in 2013. Subsequent moves took him to Paris Saint-Germain and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. This January, Al Hilal announced his contract termination. This followed an injury-plagued period at the club.