SAO PAULO (BN24) — Neymar Jr. was visibly shaken and in tears following Santos FC’s crushing 6-0 loss to Vasco da Gama in a crucial Serie A clash on Sunday. The result marked the worst defeat of Neymar’s storied career and left Santos teetering dangerously close to relegation.
Santos entered the match in a precarious position, battling relegation with just 21 points and sitting in 15th place. The club’s hopes were dashed as Philippe Coutinho’s performance propelled Vasco to a dominant win. Neymar, unable to make a significant impact, left the field in tears, a rare moment of raw emotion from the Brazilian forward.
“This is a shame. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life,” Neymar said, wiping tears from his eyes. “I’m embarrassed. I’m totally disappointed with our performance.”
The emotional outpouring was evident as Neymar struggled to come to terms with the scale of the loss. In addition to the defeat, Neymar picked up his third yellow card of the season, which will rule him out of Santos’ next match against Bahia.
Head coach Fernando Diniz consoled Neymar as he walked off the pitch, but the result also had immediate consequences off the field. Santos announced the dismissal of head coach Cleber Xavier, who was let go by the club’s board shortly after the final whistle.
With both clubs fighting relegation, this was a make-or-break match, and the defeat left Santos with little margin for error as they continue their battle to stay in Brazil’s top flight. Neymar, however, acknowledged the frustration of the fans, who had every right to voice their displeasure, though he urged for protests to remain non-violent.
“The fans have every right to protest, obviously without violence,” Neymar explained. “But if they want to curse or insult us, they are in their right.”
Reflecting on his tears, Neymar admitted that they were born out of frustration and helplessness. “The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help at all. Honestly, it was total crap — that’s the reality,” he said.
The loss not only dealt a devastating blow to Santos’ survival hopes but also marked a new low for Neymar in his professional journey. The club must now find a way to regroup quickly as they face a battle against relegation, with Neymar at the heart of their survival efforts.
