A ticking time bomb named Neymar

Tension is at an all-time high at Santos FC. The 2-1 loss to Internacional de Porto Alegre on Matchday 16 of the 2025 Brasileirao has left the team in the relegation zone—and Neymar’s comeback right in the eye of the storm. What was meant to be a redemption arc is quickly becoming a nightmare.

At the final whistle, a visibly furious Neymar clashed with a fan in the stands. The forward responded to the taunts with insults and offensive gestures as he walked off the field. Several attendees captured the scene on video, which quickly went viral and sparked yet another controversy around the Brazilian star.

The moment he lost his head

This wasn’t an isolated outburst. Just minutes before the end of the match, Neymar had already exchanged words with other fans and even smashed the corner flag after celebrating a goal that was never awarded. In the controversial play, the Brazilian struck a left-footed volley that hit the post and rolled along the goal line. He celebrated as if it had gone in—but the referee didn’t count it.

The footage spread fast on social media, and while the play is still fueling online debate, VAR did not overturn the call. Neymar kept arguing for several seconds, further inflaming a crowd that’s clearly out of patience.

Four goals, no calm

Since his highly anticipated return to Peixe, Neymar has scored only four goals in the Brasileirao, and the team currently sits 17th in the standings with just 14 points from 15 matches. Pressure is rising, and so is the frustration. This time, it was up to goalkeeper João Paulo to step in and calm the striker before things escalated further.

Expectations were sky-high, but the reality for Neymar and Santos is far from the dream script. And the worst part? This may be just the beginning.