Palmeiras fans unhappy with Veiga’s form this season | OneFootball

If the year 2025 was one 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. Amid injuries and failures in decisive moments, the midfielder ended the year falling short of the football that made him a pillar of the alviverde achievements.

In a poll conducted by Gazeta Esportiva, 29.41% of fans believe the athlete's season was terrible, while 26.47% consider it bad. Another 26.47% rated it as regular. Finally, 17.65% evaluated it as good.

Palmeiras fans consider Veiga's season "terrible"

Veiga's numbers in 2025 reflect the sharp decline in performance. In 53 matches played (starting in 31), the midfielder scored only seven goals and provided 11 assists. To give an idea of the decline, the player had not 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 triple what he managed to deliver this year.

Besides the low productivity, the season was marked by moments the fans would rather forget. The hardest blow occurred in the final of the Campeonato Paulista: with rivals Corinthians leading 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 alvinegro title 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 issues throughout 2025. He was out for 24 days due to a shoulder injury in April, had problems in the lumbar area, and most seriously, a pubic 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.