Neymar Jr marked his long-awaited return to action with an assist as Santos FC cruised to a dominant 6-0 victory over Velo Clube in the Paulista A1 on Tuesday night.
The Brazilian superstar, making his first appearance of 2026 after recovering from injury, was greeted with huge excitement by fans at Vila Belmiro. While Neymar did not find the back of the net, he played a key role in Santos’ attacking display and showed flashes of the creativity and flair that made him a global icon.
Santos took control of the match early and never looked back. Gabriel opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Moisés doubled the lead in the 18th minute. Thaciano added a third goal in the 23rd minute to put the hosts firmly in charge before halftime.
In the second half, Santos continued their relentless pressure. Gabriel struck again in the 81st minute to complete his brace, while G. Menino made it 4-0 in the 69th minute. Neymar’s assist came during a flowing attacking move, highlighting his vision and sharp passing despite his recent absence from competitive football.