Just as Neymar was finding his form again with Santos, injury concerns have resurfaced. The Brazilian had to leave the pitch prematurely, raising fears about his fitness.
The 33-year-old forward was instrumental in Santos’ 2-0 victory over Bragantino, securing a spot in the Paulista Championship semi-finals. He opened the scoring with a brilliant free kick, continuing his impressive return to his boyhood club. Since rejoining in January, Neymar has already tallied three goals and three assists, with most of his contributions coming from set pieces.
However, his night ended on a worrying note as he limped off in the 76th minute, applying an ice pack to his left thigh. While the injury doesn’t appear to be serious, Santos remains on edge as they await further assessments.
After the match, Neymar praised his team’s efficiency on set pieces: “Winning teams capitalize on set pieces. We train for this, and today we executed it perfectly.”
When asked about a preferred semi-final opponent, Neymar dismissed any concerns: “Of course, we don’t want to face the strongest teams, but they fear me more than I fear them.”
Santos will now wait to see who they’ll face next, hoping their star playmaker will be fully fit for the challenge ahead.
