Santos are alive—and they owe it to a familiar savior. Neymar, under scrutiny and surrounded by rumors of playing injured, produced a vintage performance to rescue his boyhood club from the relegation zone. With a stunning hat-trick against Juventude, the Brazilian superstar pushed the Peixe to the brink of survival with just one match left.

A Night That Felt Like Classic Neymar

The moment Neymar switched on, the game transformed. His opener came in the 56th minute with a composed right-footed strike at the end of a flowing team move. Ten minutes later, he doubled the lead with a precise low shot across goal. And at 73’, from the penalty spot, he sealed his historic treble for a 3–0 victory.

The goals also carried an important milestone: Neymar reached 150 goals for Santos, strengthening his legacy in the club where everything began.

Playing Through Injury? Reports Spark Heated Debate

In recent days, Brazilian media and fans have questioned whether Neymar has been playing through an injury, reportedly against medical advice, driven by a single mission: saving Santos from relegation.

Images of discomfort in previous matches added fuel to the speculation. But his performance against Juventude told another story—a player determined to carry his team regardless of pain or risk. The responsibility was enormous, and Neymar embraced it fully.

Five Goals in Two Matches: Leader Mode Activated

Neymar’s late-season surge couldn’t have come at a better time. With five goals in his last two matches, he has dragged Santos back into contention when they seemed lost.

Beyond the numbers, his presence transforms the team, offering confidence, creativity and sheer belief to a squad that had been collapsing under pressure.

Survival Is Within Reach

Thanks to Neymar’s hat-trick, Santos climbed out of the relegation zone and now control their own destiny heading into the final round.

He returned to the club with the goal of preventing the darkest chapter in its history—and if the Peixe stay up, this will be remembered as the night that changed everything. Even playing hurt, Neymar proved once again why he remains one of the game’s great difference-makers.