Neymar scores first goal in Brazil’s top flight for 12 years… and tries to nutmeg rival manager

Brazil record scorer Neymar said he wants to “play 90 minutes in every game” after ending a wait of almost 13 years for a goal in his homeland’s Serie A with a clinical late winner for Santos against leaders Flamengo.

In his first 90-minute appearance for five months, striker Neymar turned sharply inside the box and fired in under pressure to net in the Brazilian top flight for the first time since December 2012 with the only goal of the game in the 84th minute at Santos’s Estadio do Vila Belmiro home.

“I want to get in better physical shape,” said the 33-year-old (via Marca), who hopes to spearhead the Selecao at the 2026 Fifa World Cup but has been hampered by three hamstring injuries and fitness issues since returning from almost a year out for knee surgery.

“That takes time, both in games and in training. My body is still adapting, re-acquainting itself with everything. It’s not easy dealing with the injury I suffered. I’m not 100%, but I’m improving.”

GOLAÇO DE NEYMAR! 🫲🤪🫱
Neymar desencanta no Brasileirão! Gabriel Bontempo abre na esquerda para Guilherme, que encontra Neymar na área. O camisa 10 se livra de Léo Pereira, de Varela e bate cruzado para vencer Rossi!#neymar #santos #flamengo #brasileirão #campeonatobrasileiro… pic.twitter.com/goVZ7ajL35

— ge (@geglobo) July 17, 2025

Santos vs Flamengo: Neymar goal

Santos moved two points clear of the relegation zone with their fourth win in 13 league matches this season, playing a counter-attacking style and contending with 25% of possession to condemn Flamengo to their second league defeat of 2025.

Neymar, who took a huge pay cut to rejoin his boyhood club after barely featuring during almost 18 months at Saudi giants Al-Hilal, shared a playful moment with Filipe Luis when the ball went out of play near Flamengo’s manager, attempting to nutmeg the former Brazil, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea defender before grinning and sharing a hug with the 39-year-old.

“He’s an extraordinary player and a great friend and former teammate with the national team,” said Filipe Luis, who won the 2019 Copa America with Brazil under Tite, the manager he replaced at Flamengo in September 2024.

“I have a very close and very good friendship with him. It’s a privilege for Brazilian football that he’s playing here again. It’s a shame that he managed to decide the game for Santos.”

Neymar had made four previous appearances in this season’s Serie A, starting twice and missing seven games through injury.

His previous goal in the division was part of a double at home to Palmeiras, having also scored in the 87th minute of a 2-0 win against visitors Flamengo in September 2012.

The future Ballon d’Or nominee made an emotional final appearance of his first spell at the club against Flamengo in May 2013 before joining Barcelona for a £200 million fee that remains the global transfer record.

Neymar tried to nutmeg Filipe Luis 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/udA2gHsCzY

— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) July 16, 2025

Neymar injuries ‘require care’, says Santos boss

Santos manager Cleber Xavier said Neymar is “crucial” for his team. “Today, I saw Neymar physically at Serie A level,” observed the former Flamengo and Brazil assistant.

“We saw him in duels, in repositioning, even defending and pressuring our defenders – something he hadn’t been doing before [Neymar’s last appearance on June 1].

“It’s normal after such a long lay-off. I believe an injury as serious and severe as the one he sustained will always require care for his muscles and knee. But he’s a player who, when he’s healthy, always makes a difference.”

Flamengo’s Leo Pereira rued Neymar’s goal. “We knew they would play for one ball, and they had that ball right there at the end of the game,” said the centre-back.

“It was a defensive oversight, and that’s unacceptable for anyone who wants to be Brazilian champions. It’s Neymar. You always need to have a different [way of] marking him.

“But we played our game without thinking much about Neymar. We knew he could define the game with any play. It was our oversight.

“A guy as different as him shouldn’t have that much freedom… we were very exposed and open [on the telling counter-attack]. Unfortunately, he was lucky and deserved to score.”

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Neymar ‘always takes out markers’ – Filipe Luis

Flamengo, who beat champions Chelsea on their way to the last 16 of the 2025 Club World Cup, host Fluminense in a derby on Sunday (23:30 BST).

Third last season, they are currently level on points at the summit with Cruzeiro and Bragantino but have a considerable goal superiority.

“He’s a decisive player who gets the ball and always does something,” Filipe Luis said of Neymar. “[He can produce] a dangerous, effective [piece of] play that leaves his teammate in front of goal.

“We obviously try to be especially careful with this type of player. First, we don’t give him time to receive the ball and always have people on him.

“But he always takes out the marker who comes close, has very good vision of the game and always ends up putting his teammate at an advantage.

“In fact, Santos created more chances through our loss of possession, transitions and counter-attacks. At times when we were comfortable, we tried to speed up the play and forced a pass and made mistakes in the middle.

“That’s how we suffered. I tried to correct that at half-time… but unfortunately, it was our mistake that led to the goal.”

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Neymar stats: Santos, Brazil

Neymar’s goal was the 443rd of his club and international career in 732 games, according to Brasil Football, which said that it was his 700th direct goal involvement, including 257 assists.

The 2021 Copa America Best Player has 128 caps and broke Pele’s record by scoring the 78th of his 79 international goals during Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia in September 2023, but ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Uruguay the following month.

After missing two games at the 2022 World Cup with an ankle injury, Neymar produced two goals and one assists but was part of a team knocked out by Croatia in the quarter-finals.

The result ensured he has never played beyond the last eight of the tournament, having been ever-present and contributed two goals and two assists before Brazil were knocked out at that stage by Belgium in 2018.

At his first World Cup in 2014, Neymar finished on four goals and one assist in five games but missed Brazil’s 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany and 3-0 third-placed match loss to the Netherlands through injury.

Neymar salary, wages, contract

Neymar reportedly signed an initial six-month contract with Santos, which he has since extended until the end of the Brazilian season in December.

The Champions League winner is said to have had a deal worth £125m a year with Al-Hilal, who he joined from Paris Saint-Germain for around £77.6m plus add-ons in August 2023.