Neymar cut a frustrated figure after Santos’ humbling loss to Mirassol, snapping at repeated questions over his fitness while admitting his side were completely outclassed. With relegation fears mounting, the pressure is rising for both the Brazilian icon and his struggling team.
Neymar’s highly anticipated return to Santos was meant to spark a revival, but after another crushing defeat in the Brazilian Serie A, the reality is far from hopeful. The 3-0 loss to Mirassol left Santos reeling, and Neymar visibly agitated, both with the performance and the persistent questions about his physical condition.
Speaking post-match, the 32-year-old couldn’t hide his irritation when asked – once again, about his match fitness. “This again? I’ve said it 300 times,” he fired back at a reporter. Neymar had just played a second full 90 minutes in the space of four days, having scored the winning goal in a narrow 1-0 victory over Flamengo earlier in the week.
But any momentum from that midweek win quickly evaporated as Santos were comprehensively outplayed by Mirassol. “Everything was missing,” Neymar admitted in his brutally honest post-match comments. “That’s why the score was 3-0. We didn’t even play half the game we did against Flamengo in terms of marking. In that game, Flamengo dominated possession, and today Mirassol were superior in every aspect.”
It was a sobering defeat for Santos, who remain locked in a relegation battle. With just 14 points from 14 games, the former Brazilian giants are struggling to find consistency, despite the return of one of their most iconic players.
Neymar rejoined the club in January on a short-term deal, hoping to help steer them clear of danger while rekindling his connection with the fans and the club where his stardom began. His early performances, including goals and glimpses of brilliance, briefly reignited belief. But results have remained mixed, and the pressure on both Neymar and the squad is mounting.
Now contracted until December, Neymar is expected to shoulder even more responsibility, not just creatively, but also in terms of leadership and mentality. His legendary status and experience are crucial assets in a squad fighting for its top-flight survival.
The next few weeks will be critical. With fixtures coming thick and fast, and Santos facing direct rivals in the relegation scrap, every point counts. The fans still believe in Neymar, but the question remains: can he rally this side and drag them to safety?
For now, frustrations are spilling over, and Santos, much like Neymar, are running out of time and patience.
