Neymar experienced a double-edged night at Vila Belmiro. The Santos forward opened the scoring against Mirassol, but ended up playing an involuntary role in the equalizer of a match that left more questions than answers about his physical condition and competitive impact in the final stretch of the Brasileirão.

A promising start that quickly unraveled

The number 10 needed just four minutes to ignite the stadium. He finished off a lightning-fast transition after a rival corner kick and pushed the ball into the net, firing up the home crowd. It was the kind of moment that reminded fans why his return to the club where he grew up created so much excitement.

But the euphoria didn’t last. During the first half, Neymar required medical attention after landing awkwardly, raising fears of yet another injury. Although he managed to continue, the moment set off alarms among supporters already anxious about his string of physical issues since returning in January, a period in which he has missed more than one hundred days due to muscle problems.

Even so, he completed the full 90 minutes and showed flashes of the world-class player he once was, though still far from his dominant best.

The penalty that changed the night

The turning point came early in the second half. The forward arrived late into a challenge inside the box and brought down Reinaldo. The referee initially let play continue, but VAR intervened and, after review, a penalty was awarded. Reinaldo converted it to make it 1-1, a score that would remain unchanged.

The final stretch became a frantic back-and-forth. Santos, pushed by more than 14,000 fans, pressed for a winning goal and came close thanks to a long-range free kick from Neymar, which forced Walter, Mirassol’s goalkeeper, into a full-stretch save. It was the last major chance of the match.

After the final whistle, Neymar spent several minutes speaking with the referee, visibly frustrated by how the victory slipped away.

A vulnerable Santos and a Mirassol that keeps dreaming

The draw leaves Santos in an uncomfortable position: with 37 points, they sit just one point above Vitória, the team marking the relegation zone, which still has to visit Red Bull Bragantino this matchday.

Mirassol, meanwhile, continues to confirm its status as one of the revelations of the year. With 60 points, the team holds onto fourth place and remains on track for direct qualification to the next Copa Libertadores.

Another night of contrasts for Neymar, who leaves between applause, concern, and the growing sense that every match has become a new test of his physical and mental state.