World Cup pause: Santos’ first half-season, who impressed and who fell short | OneFootball

Santos’ first half of 2026 was riddled with swings, with performances improving under Cuca but results lagging and fans left underwhelmed. The Brasileirão is the main worry, the side reach mid-season again battling to avoid the Z-4.

According to Globo.com, Santos went out in the Campeonato Paulista quarter-finals to runners-up Novorizontino, knocked out Coritiba in the Copa do Brasil fifth phase, and in the Copa Sudamericana scraped through as group runners-up into a playoff.

Highlights included Gabigol, on 14 goals in 27 outings and a team-leading seven assists, pivotal in keeping the Sudamericana bid alive and enjoying his best year since 2023 while on loan from Cruzeiro. Academy forward Gabriel Bontempo has emerged with four goals and three assists, and Lucas Veríssimo returned to steady the defence and lead.

Neymar met his personal aim of a World Cup call-up and contributed six goals and four assists in 15 matches, though his form fluctuated and a right-calf issue currently sidelines him during the Seleção’s build-up. Rollheiser, among the costliest recruits, has clicked with the attack, posting four goals and three assists in 27 games.

Lowlights featured Mayke’s fitness troubles and loss of the right-back spot to Igor Vinícius. Zé Rafael has slipped to the fringes, asked to train apart and should rescind, while Zé Ivaldo has barely figured. Rony has one goal in 22 after a three million euro fee, and Moisés’ form has dipped since Cuca came in, including a conceded penalty against Deportivo Cuenca, saved by Gabriel Brazão.

Source: Globo.com