What happened to Neymar? The Remo incident adds to a series of controversies in 2026

Neymar is once again making headlines after a confrontation with Remo officials following Santos' qualification for the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.

Neymar is once again making headlines after a confrontation with Remo officials following Santos' qualification for the Copa do Brasil quarter-finals.

The incident, which occurred after Santos' 1-0 victory in Belém, is the latest in a series of controversies involving the Brazilian forward since his return to the club where he began his professional career.

What happened between Neymar and Remo?

After the match, Neymar exchanged insults with Remo officials in the dressing-room area of the Mangueirão Stadium.

According to reports, the forward reacted after being provoked and insulted from the stands during the match, sarcastically reminding Remo representatives that their team had been "eliminated" from the Copa do Brasil.

Security staff intervened to calm the situation, and Neymar later posted on social media:

"Thanks for the affection, Belém."

Responding to criticism over his behavior, Neymar later claimed he is the target of persecution and said some people take "pleasure" in highlighting his mistakes.

Neymar's controversies since returning to Santos

The clash with Remo is only the latest incident involving Neymar since his return to Santos.

In June, he denied reports of a confrontation with younger teammates after a draw against Chapecoense, insisting the discussion had been a collective self-assessment.

He also faced criticism for taking part in a poker tournament on a day off while Santos was playing in the Copa Sudamericana, arguing that he had not been called up for the match and had fulfilled his training responsibilities.

Other episodes this year include an altercation with youngster Robinho Jr. during training that was later resolved with public apologies, an argument with a fan after a Copa Sudamericana draw, controversy over a gesture toward the crowd that Neymar said was simply him scratching his ear, an apology for using a sexist expression while criticizing refereeing, and an exchange of provocations with Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland during Brazil's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.