Feb 16 β€’ 05:55 UTC πŸ‡ΆπŸ‡¦ Qatar Al Jazeera

Neymar, Brazil's historic top scorer, returns to Santos and dreams of the 2026 World Cup

Neymar made his return to Santos after weeks out due to knee surgery, showcasing his skills in a 6-0 victory while aiming for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.

Neymar, the top scorer in Brazil's history, returned to competitive play on Sunday, participating in a match with Santos after a lengthy absence due to left knee surgery. He came off the bench in the second half against Velo Clube in the Paulista Championship, where Santos recorded a commanding 6-0 victory. This match marked his first appearance since December, where he demonstrated moments of his renowned talent despite being out for several weeks.

The 34-year-old forward has faced a challenging season at Santos, plagued by recurring injuries since transferring from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia last year. Nevertheless, he played a crucial role in keeping the team in the top tier of Brazilian football. Neymar recently reached an agreement to extend his contract with Santos until the end of 2026, signaling his commitment to the club and hope for better performances ahead.

As Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, Neymar surpasses the legendary PelΓ© by two goals. However, he has not participated in any matches for the national team in over two years, and he harbors aspirations of returning to represent Brazil in the 2026 World Cup, marking a significant personal and sporting goal for the player as he navigates the latter stages of his career.

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