Neymar Returns, But Santos Crash Out of Copa do Brasil

Neymar made his comeback for Santos after a thigh injury but couldn’t prevent a Copa do Brasil exit, as they lost 5-4 on penalties to CRB. The 33-year-old, back at Santos until June 30, remains undecided about extending his stay. Santos sit second-bottom in the league, with six losses in nine matches this season.

When the Copa do Brasil third-round tie between Santos and CRB ended in a 5-4 penalty shootout defeat for Santos, all eyes were on Neymar’s long-awaited return. The 33-year-old forward had been sidelined for over a month due to a thigh injury sustained in April 2025 during a Brasileiro match against Atletico Mineiro. Despite coming back to action, Neymar couldn’t prevent his team’s elimination from the tournament.

This marked Neymar’s second major injury of the year, with his earlier return to Santos his boyhood club, already filled with fitness setbacks. His current contract runs until June 30, 2025, following a short stint with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal. When asked about a potential contract extension after the match, Neymar remained non-committal, telling Amazon Prime, “I don’t know yet.”

Santos, once a dominant force in Brazilian football, has been struggling in the domestic league. They sit second from bottom in the standings after losing six of their first nine matches in the 2025 season. With Neymar’s return offering a glimmer of hope, the club faces an uphill battle both in terms of survival in the league and clarifying the future of their marquee player.