Neymar, the patched-up hero: torn meniscus can't stop Santos rescue | OneFootball

It wasn't necessary to write his name on the scoresheet to cement his legendary status. On the last, and potentially dramatic day of the Brasileirao, Neymar Jr. completed his personal masterpiece, transforming into a bandaged hero capable of saving Santos from hell and leading them to paradise.

Three victories, salvation, and surpassing Corinthians: Santos soars thanks to a stoic Neymar

The 3-0 victory against Cruzeiro, marked by Thaciano's brace and Joao Schmidt's goal, not only represents the mathematical salvation for Peixe but also an unexpected qualification for the next Copa Sudamericana. A miraculous achievement considering the precarious conditions of number 10. Neymar, in fact, played the last three decisive matches while dealing with a meniscus injury. Despite the pain and risk, the superstar gritted his teeth, leading his teammates to a perfect end of the season: three consecutive 3-0 victories, in which he recorded 4 goals and an assist before today's match, where he still inspired the play with his class.

The feat of Santos is even sweeter for the fans, as it coincides with the disappointment for their historic rivals. The overtaking in the standings at the expense of Corinthians is served: Timão's draw against the already relegated Juventude excludes them from Europe precisely in favor of Neymar's team.

With the mission accomplished, with salvation in hand and the relegations of Ceara, Fortaleza, Juventude, and Sport Recife now official, as highlighted by Sportitalia, O'Ney spoke about his future without filters, revealing all his physical and mental fatigue: “Will I stay at Santos? Honestly, I don't know. I said to wait until the end of the championship. Now I want to rest for at least a week, take a trip, and forget about football.” Then, the declaration of love that keeps the fans' hopes alive: “My heart is always with Santos. It will always be first for me. But we'll see what's best for everyone.”

Andrea Alati

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