Neymar returned to play for Santos after 48 days out with a thigh injury and helped secure a 1-1 draw against Fortaleza in the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. He came on in the second half, contributed to the equalizer, and took a dangerous free kick in added time. The result placed Santos 16th with 33 points.
The match took place at Vila Belmiro on Saturday (November 1, 2025), in the 31st round of the Brazilian Championship. Fortaleza scored first through Adam Bareiro, but Santos equalized in the 31st minute of the second half when Neymar, who had entered at the 21st minute, passed to Adonis Frías. The defender shot powerfully, and the ball deflected off full-back Bruno Pacheco for an own goal. In added time, Neymar took a free kick with a 'pause' just outside the penalty area, but goalkeeper Brenno made a strong save, preventing the winner.
Neymar had not played since September 14, when he injured his right thigh's rectus femoris muscle during a 1-1 draw with Atlético-MG in Belo Horizonte. At 33, he has dealt with recurring injuries, including a 2023 anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee while with Al Hilal against Uruguay in World Cup qualifiers. Back at Santos since late January, he has 22 appearances this season with six goals and four assists but missed key games like the Paulista semi-final against Corinthians.
Coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda praised Neymar's entry: “It was a planned decision with the player himself. He is focused on Santos and took on part of the responsibility on the field, helping to share the pressure among the athletes.” On defensive errors, particularly aerial balls as against Fluminense, Vojvoda stated: “We showed the mistakes to the players and worked on correcting them. Concentration is fundamental to avoid issues in important moments, like the goals we've conceded in recent games.”
The draw gives Santos 33 points in 16th place, two above Vitória, the first in the relegation zone. Fortaleza, with 28 points, is 18th. The next match is against Palmeiras on Thursday (November 6), at 9:30 PM, at Allianz Parque. Neymar aims to regain rhythm for a potential 2026 World Cup call-up, as Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti conditioned: the player will only be selected if physically fit.