Class is eternal — injured Neymar keeps Santos alive with a hat-trick

A meniscus tear is developing, surgery is suggested, a month of rest is recommended to make a full recovery. Neymar doesn’t even want to hear about it. He plays through intense pain, carries Santos on his back, and nothing else matters to him.

He has decided to keep the childhood club in Brazil’s top flight, while also regaining form to return to the national team in March, so Carlo Ancelotti can take him to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

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He completed one training session with Santos, his first in a week, stepped onto the field, and scored a hat-trick. Injured. Santos won 3–0 away at Juventude (0–0 at halftime) and with 44 points stayed above the relegation zone, two points ahead of Vitoria, the first team below the line.

At Alfredo Jaconi Stadium in Caxias do Sul, the old Neymar appeared. He danced like he used to. How long it had been since we had seen such a performance from him — the magic, and above all, the sheer love for football. Even though Juventude had long been relegated and were second-to-last, fans showed up. It was clear Santos wouldn’t have an easy time.

Despite Juventude’s relegation being confirmed, their last match of the year at Jaconi, against Neymar’s Santos, drew the largest crowd of the season. There were 15,343 spectators in the stands, slightly more than the 15,204 who attended the loss to Flamengo.

The visitors were the better side in the first half. Santos had more chances in the first 45 minutes. In the fourth minute, Neymar set up Guilherme, whose powerful strike from the edge of the box was stopped by Juventude goalkeeper Jandrei.

In the 30th minute, Santos’ number ten tried to surprise the keeper with a shot almost from midfield, but the ball went too high. Shortly after, Souza also shot from distance, but Jandrei again intervened safely. Earlier, in the 26th minute, Juventude actually hit the net through Taljari, who took advantage of a rebound from Marcelo Hermes’ shot. However, the goal was disallowed for offside, and Santos could breathe a sigh of relief. At halftime, the score remained 0–0.

In the 47th minute, Neymar had a great chance. Santos built an attack from the center to the left side, Souza crossed, the ball deflected and reached Neymar in the box, but his shot went over the goal. When Santos threatened more seriously in the second half, the goals started to come. After another good move, Guilherme set up Neymar in the box, his shot deflected off a defender and went in at the 56th minute. Nine minutes later, on a counterattack, the Brazilian star scored again. He received the ball in the box and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot.

The third goal didn’t take long either. In the 68th minute, Barreal hit the post, but referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio was soon called to review a situation where Lautaro Diaz had been pulled by Rodrigo Sam. A penalty was awarded, and Neymar calmly converted it in the 73rd minute, completing his hat-trick.

If Santos avoid defeat at home against Cruzeiro in the final round, survival will be secured.