Sports
Injured Neymar Emotional As Boyhood Club Santos Stun Cruizero 3–0, Escape Relegation
Santos completed one of the most dramatic survival missions in recent Brazilian football history, defeating third-placed Cruzeiro 3–0 on the final day of the season to secure their place in Serie A on Sunday night.
At the center of the escape was Neymar — emotional, visibly in pain, yet decisive when Santos needed him most.
The 33-year-old forward, who returned to the club in January, has endured a difficult year recovering from a serious knee injury, but his influence in the closing rounds proved crucial.
He delivered a series of standout performances: scoring in a 3–0 win over Sport Recife, firing a hat-trick against Juventude in another 3–0 result, and acting as the creative heartbeat in the decisive victory over Cruzeiro at Vila Belmiro.
Those wins lifted Santos to 12th place with 47 points, rescuing a season that had once threatened to end in what would have been only the second relegation in the club’s storied history.
PUNCH Online reports that in Sunday’s game, Thaciano netted twice in two minutes for the home team, in the 26th and 28th minute, before J. Schmidt sealed it on the one-hour dot in the second half of the game.
Their first drop came in 2023, breaking a 111-year record of uninterrupted participation in the topflight.
The relief was clear across the stadium — and especially in Neymar’s reaction.
After the final whistle, he dropped to his knees in the centre circle, overcome with emotion.
Despite weeks of pain from a meniscus and knee problem, he had insisted on playing through the final stretch. Fans witnessed him later circling the ground, applauding the supporters who stood by the team during its tense battle for safety.
Santos’s late surge capped a season in which Neymar featured in only 19 league matches but still produced eight goals and several decisive contributions.
His insistence on playing through discomfort was confirmed afterward, when he publicly acknowledged the physical toll.
Tribuna on Monday quoted Neymar as saying, “I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me.
“I thank those who were with me to lift me up. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest, and then we will have this knee surgery.”
He did not disclose medical details or a surgery date, though he remains hopeful of earning a place in Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
The club’s captain on his official X account sharing images and a small caption, wrote in Portuguese, “Deus, OBRIGADO!
” which is English means, “God, Thank You.”
Coach Carlo Ancelotti has yet to select him since taking charge in May, but the forward’s club form in the final run-in has revived national interest.
Sports Star on Monday also noted that Santos fans will remember this escape as one of the club’s great modern survival stories — and as a chapter where their most famous academy product once again carried the badge with pride, even while injured.
Sunday’s victory not only sealed safety but also reaffirmed Neymar’s enduring bond with the club that shaped him.
PUNCH Online reports that in 2013, Neymar departed Santos for Europe, signing a record-breaking deal with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona. He later continued his journey at Paris Saint-Germain in France, and eventually secured a move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
In January 2025, Brazilian star Neymar on Monday ended his injury-plagued 18 month stay in Saudi Arabia as his club, Al-Hilal said they had “agreed to terminate the player’s contract by mutual consent.”
Michael Carrick has been named Manchester United’s new caretaker manager until the end of the season, with the club set to make an official announcement shortly.
Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the development, revealing that an agreement had been in place since yesterday and has now been fully concluded, including arrangements for Carrick’s backroom staff.
“Michael Carrick signs in as new Manchester United caretaker manager until the end of the season. Verbal agreement since yesterday, now sorted in all details + backroom staff also. #MUFC official announcement to follow next,” Romano wrote.
Carrick, a former United midfielder and coach, returns to the dugout at Old Trafford at a crucial moment as the club looks to stabilise its campaign and push for a strong finish to the season.
Executive Chairman of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, has pledged over $1.5 million should the Super Eagles win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Nigeria defeated Algeria 2–0 in the quarterfinal to qualify for the semifinals of the 35th edition of the continental tournament at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday, January 10.
Goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams ended the Desert Foxes’ unbeaten run and sent them crashing out of the tournament.
Nigerian billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu has congratulated the Super Eagles for overpowering the Desert Foxes of Algeria in the quarterfinal. The Nigerian businessman said the win has lifted the spirit of the country and place the West African giants on the map of the world.
The 60-year-old promised the three-time AFCON winners $500,000 if they win the semifinal and an addition $50,000 for each goal scored. He said: “Congratulations to our Super Eagles players on a brilliant victory against Algeria.
“You have lifted the spirit of the nation, and we proudly cheer you on as you prepare for the semi-finals.
“To encourage you, I pledge USD $500,000 to the players upon winning the semi-final, with an additional USD $50,000 for every goal scored.
Rabiu further pledged the sum of $1 million if the Super Eagles win the AFCON title and an additional $100,000 per goal. He said:”Should you go on to win the final, I further pledge $1,000,000, plus USD $100,000 for each goal scored in the final.
“Wishing you continued success as you carry Nigeria forward.
“Keep making Nigeria proud. Proudly Nigerian.”
Aston Villa beat struggling Nottingham Forest 3-1 at their home fortress on Saturday to ease the pain of their midweek mauling by Arsenal, leapfrogging Manchester City into second place in the Premier League.
Ollie Watkins’ strike on the cusp of half-time gave Unai Emery’s side a deserved lead and John McGinn grabbed a second early in the second period.
Morgan Gibbs-White pulled a goal back for the visitors, but McGinn took advantage of a brain freeze by Forest goalkeeper John Victor to restore Villa’s two-goal lead.
Villa’s 11-game winning streak in all competitions was brought to a shuddering halt with a 4-1 defeat at the Emirates on Tuesday, raising doubts about their ability to maintain a title charge.
But their impressive record at Villa Park remains intact — they have now won 11 straight matches since a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in August.
Villa started brightly on a bitingly cold day in Birmingham and were denied an early opener when Victor saved a Watkins shot from point-blank range with his legs.
Sean Dyche’s Forest, who came into the match on a three-match losing run, struggled to gain a foothold but the home side failed to take advantage of their dominance in a tepid first half.
The away team came close to taking the lead with their first shot on target when Emi Martinez was forced to dive to his right to deny Omari Hutchinson.
But the in-form Watkins gave Villa a deserved lead in the closing moments of a half in which they enjoyed nearly 80 percent possession.
The England man received the ball outside of the area from Morgan Rogers and slammed home for his fourth goal in three games.
McGinn doubled Villa’s lead in the 49th minute, side-footing into the net after a Matty Cash cross.
Villa appeared to be cruising towards all three points but Forest was back in the game in the 61st minute courtesy of a fine finish from Gibbs-White, who chipped past the diving Martinez.
But Villa was gifted a third goal in the 73rd minute when Victor inexplicably vacated his goalmouth to try to reach a long ball from Youri Tielemans even though there were defenders nearby.
Scotland midfielder McGinn collected the ball and remained cool, sidestepping Victor and stroking the ball into the empty net with his left foot from well outside the area.
The win leaves Villa on 42 points, three behind leaders Arsenal, and one ahead of City.
The Gunners are away at Bournemouth later on Saturday while Pep Guardiola’s men host managerless Chelsea on Sunday.
Forest remains one place above the relegation zone, four points clear of West Ham, who face Wolves later on Saturday.
AFP
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