Neymar made his highly anticipated return to Santos after 12 years, playing for the Brazilian club in their Serie A match against Botafogo on Thursday. Having left Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal to come back to the club where his career began, Neymar appeared as a second-half substitute in the home game.
Santos took a 1-0 lead into halftime thanks to a penalty from Tiquinho Soares in the 38th minute. However, Botafogo equalized in the second half, with Alexandre Jesus scoring in the 67th minute, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
After the match, Neymar took to Instagram to express his happiness about his return to the club. He wrote, “I am very happy and excited to be back. I will give my all, as I always have, to put Santos where it deserves to be—at the top.” He also acknowledged the tough result, thanking the fans for their unwavering support, saying, “Even though the result was bad, today was a very special day. Thank you all for your affection and for encouraging us until the end.”
Neymar began his professional career at Santos in 2009 at the age of 17, becoming a key player for the club. He scored 134 goals in 220 appearances before making his move to FC Barcelona in 2013. At Barcelona, Neymar solidified his legacy as one of the best players in the world, finishing as the club’s 17th all-time top scorer with 105 goals.
