Offensive star plays despite injury
©IMAGO
After it was still unclear last week whether Neymar would end the season at FC Santos due to an injury on the pitch, the 33-year-old shot his youth club to their second win in a row. The club from São Paulo won 3-0 at the already relegated EC Juventude on Thursday night and took a big step towards staying in the league. Neymar scored a flawless hat trick within 17 minutes.
In the 56th minute, the former Barcelona and PSG star gave Santos the lead, in the 65th he increased after a counterattack and converted a penalty in the 73rd minute. In the 3-0 win against bottom team Sport Recife a week ago, Neymar played a decisive role in the victory with a goal and an assist.
At the end of November, doctors recommended that the veteran not play any more football until the end of the year due to a meniscus injury. Neymar didn’t listen to the doctors’ advice. After the win against Juventude, he said on Prime Video, also with regard to his contract expiring on December 31st: “My priority is always Santos, always Santos first.”
The Pelé club has not lost its last five league games and won three times. With 44 points, Santos is two points ahead of EC Vitória in the first relegation spot and also has a much better goal difference. On the last match day, Neymar and Co. welcome third-placed EC Cruzeiro and Vitória host FC São Paulo (8th).