João Schmidt bounces back at Santos, ends 2025 on a high | OneFootball

After going through a tough time at Santos, João Schmidt established himself with the arrival of Juan Pablo Vojvoda. The midfielder became a key player for the team when the Alvinegro needed it the most: in the final rounds of the Brasileirão, fighting against relegation.

The 32-year-old player was the top leader in accurate passes for Peixe in Série A, with 1473 (86.8% accuracy), according to Sofascore. Additionally, he scored three goals and provided three assists this season.

The most important goals came in Santos' 3-0 victories over Sport in the 36th round of the tournament and against Cruzeiro in the last round, when the team indeed escaped relegation. Schmidt hadn't scored since March 2, when he helped secure a 2-0 win over Red Bull Bragantino in the quarter-finals of the Campeonato Paulista.

A Year of Highs and Lows

After standing out in Série B in 2024, João Schmidt had a season marked by fluctuations. He started the year as a substitute but gained space and the trust of Pedro Caixinha in the final stretch of the Paulistão, when he became a regular starter.

However, with the arrival of Cleber Xavier, the midfielder's performance declined, he became a target of fan criticism, and he lost his place in the squad, a situation that persisted even after Vojvoda's hiring.

In the decisive stretch of the year, however, the experienced player managed to turn things around and became an important part of the Argentine coach's scheme. Against Internacional, for example, his entry in the second half improved Santos' performance and was crucial for the team's comeback. Thus, João Schmidt ends the season on a high note and emerges as a valued name for the start of the next season.

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