How do you rate Veiga's season at Palmeiras? Vote! | OneFootball

If the year 2025 was a year of affirmation for some names in the squad, for Raphael Veiga the feeling is one of rebuilding. Considered one of the greatest idols in the recent history of Palmeiras, the number 23 ends the season under the weight of criticism and statistics that do not match his history at the club. Between injuries and failures in decisive moments, the midfielder ended the year falling short of the football that made him a pillar of the green and white achievements.

Veiga's numbers in 2025 reflect the sharp decline in performance. In 53 games played (starting in 31), the midfielder scored only seven goals and provided 11 assists. To give an idea of the decline, the player hadn't participated in so few goals since 2019, the year he returned to Verdão and played in only 20 matches. Since establishing himself, his lowest goal tally had been 18 in a single season, almost three times what he managed to deliver this year.

Besides the low productivity, the season was marked by moments the fans prefer to forget. The hardest blow occurred in the Paulista Championship final: with rival Corinthians winning 1-0 on aggregate, Veiga had the chance to tie the classic in the final minutes with a penalty kick. However, his shot was saved by Hugo Souza, sealing the title for the black and white team and generating a wave of questions about his decision-making ability.

Another factor that undermined the midfielder's continuity was his medical history. Straying from the "Veiga standard" of physical availability, the athlete suffered from three distinct problems throughout 2025. He was out for 24 days due to a shoulder injury in April, had issues in the lumbar area, and most seriously, a pubis injury that sidelined him for 37 days between August and September, keeping him out of seven crucial matches.

With the season ending this December, Raphael Veiga's challenge is clear: to use the holidays for full physical and mental recovery. For Palmeiras, recovering their number 23 is a top priority in the 2026 planning, hoping the midfielder leaves the fluctuations behind and returns to being the maestro capable of deciding titles and leading Verdão's offensive sector.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.