Neymar’s darkest day

At 33 years old and wearing the Santos jersey, Neymar Jr. hit rock bottom in Brazil. The star who once shined for Barcelona and PSG suffered a devastating blow: a 0-6 defeat against Vasco da Gama, with Philippe Coutinho as the executioner scoring twice. For a player used to the biggest stages of glory, this was the most painful defeat of his career.

At the final whistle, the image said it all: Neymar in tears, embraced by Fernando Diniz, the rival coach trying to console him. Crying, Neymar admitted to reporters what no fan wanted to hear: “It was a piece of s*** and a shame.”

A sinking Santos

The defeat pushed the Paulista side even deeper into crisis, sitting 15th in the Brasileirão with 21 points and one more game played than their direct rivals. The shadow of relegation looms again over a South American giant that cannot find answers on the pitch.

Neymar himself, despite the occasional flash of brilliance, has been unable to change the story. His talent, which once dazzled the world, is now overshadowed by the harsh reality of results. “I’m totally disappointed with our game… this has never happened in my life,” confessed the star, crushed by a reality that seems to be overtaking him.

The immediate cost: one coach down

The humiliation left deep scars at the club. Minutes after the disaster, Santos announced the dismissal of coach Cleber Xavier, in a brief statement that left no room for doubt: heads had to roll.

But even changes on the bench may not be enough. The crisis is felt in every corner of the club, and Neymar’s drama has become the symbol of a team that no longer knows how to be great.