Neymar scores twice in Santos' 2-2 draw with Chapecoense debut

Neymar marked his return to Santos action with two goals in a 2-2 draw against Chapecoense on Saturday, July 25, playing his first match since Brazil's World Cup elimination by Norway in the round of 16. The match took place at Vila Belmiro in the 20th round of Brazil's Série A. Neymar opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a first-time shot into the far corner following a combination with Álvaro Barreal, then equalized from the penalty spot in the 88th minute after Gustavo Caballero was fouled by Bruno Matias.

Chapecoense, the league's last-placed team, equalized through Marcinho shortly after halftime before João Ananias scored an own goal in the 61st minute to give the visitors a 1-2 lead. Santos' comeback through Neymar's penalty preserved the club's position in 14th place with 22 points, maintaining a 12-point gap above last-placed Chapecoense. The result, however, extended Santos' pattern of inconsistency throughout the season, with the team failing to control a match that appeared manageable during the opening period.

Neymar's return was marked by celebrations in which he mimicked poker and golf gestures—references to recent activities that had drawn public criticism. Reports emerged in the previous days that Neymar had participated in a golf outing at a resort in Orlando, Florida after Brazil's World Cup exit, and had also participated in a poker tournament during a period when Santos was competing in the Copa Sudamericana. In his post-World Cup commentary, Neymar's father had appealed to his son to "return to feeling joy with the ball at your feet" and "return to smiling on the pitch."

The draw highlighted ongoing defensive vulnerabilities and tactical inconsistency for Santos. Coach Cuca attempted to field a lineup combining Gabriel Bontempo, Rollheiser, Barreal, Gabigol, and Neymar to compete across three competitions—the Brasileirão, Copa do Brasil, and Copa Sudamericana. The performance mirrored earlier struggles against lower-ranked opponents, including a 4-2 loss to the same Chapecoense in the first half of the season, the club's only current defeat at home. Neymar received a yellow card late in the match and will miss Santos' next fixture, a derby against São Paulo.

Historically, Neymar's first appearances after World Cup campaigns have carried significance. In 2014, following Brazil's injury-forced exit, he returned with Barcelona 45 days later, scoring twice in a 6-0 win over León and assisting Lionel Messi, coinciding with Luis Suárez's debut and the formation of the MSN trio. In 2018, after Brazil's elimination by Belgium, Neymar appeared 29 days later in PSG's 4-0 French Super Cup victory over Monaco.