Neymar left the field visibly irritated after being substituted in the Santos vs Flamengo match, in the 33rd round of the Brasileirão at Maracanã. The player criticized the refereeing at halftime and complained about the coaching staff's decision at the end of the game. Santos lost 3-2 but nearly tied after the star's exit.
On Sunday, November 9, 2025, Santos faced Flamengo at Maracanã in the 33rd round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The match ended with a 3-2 victory for Flamengo. Neymar, Santos' number 10 and captain, was substituted in the final stretch of the second half, with the score at 3-0 for the home team.
After leaving the pitch, Neymar showed dissatisfaction with the coaching staff. He questioned a team member: “Vai me tirar?” (Are you going to take me out?). Instead of staying on the bench, the player left the field without watching the rest of the game. Despite his exit, Santos reacted and came within one goal of tying in the closing minutes.
At halftime, Neymar had already expressed frustration with the refereeing. He criticized referee Sávio Pereira Sampaio from the Federal District, calling him arrogant for not accepting complaints, even from the captain. According to the player, the referee threatened him with a yellow card if he continued protesting.
This incident is not isolated; earlier that day, Fluminense's full-back Samuel Xavier criticized Brazilian referees in another match. Santos returns to action on November 15 against Palmeiras in a delayed 13th-round game, at 9 PM, at Vila Belmiro.