Brazilian star Neymar left the pitch in tears after Santos were handed a humiliating 6-0 home defeat by Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian Serie A on Sunday. The result marked the heaviest loss of Neymar’s career and the first time Santos have conceded six goals at home in a top-flight league match.
The crushing defeat left Santos just two points above the relegation zone, prompting the club to sack head coach Cleber Xavier within hours of the final whistle.
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa forward Philippe Coutinho led the charge for Vasco with two goals, as the visitors picked up their first league win in six matches and their biggest top-flight victory in 17 years.
“I’m ashamed,” Neymar said after the match. “I’m totally disappointed with our performance. The fans have every right to protest, obviously without using violence. But if they want to curse and insult, they’re in their right. To sum up our attitude on the field, it was terrible.”
The 33-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club in January following the termination of his contract with Saudi side Al-Hilal, was visibly emotional at the final whistle. “I’ve never experienced this in my life,” he added. “The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I can’t help in every way. I think everyone today needs to go home and think about what they want to do.”
Neymar, still the world’s most expensive player following his £200 million move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, re-signed with Santos on a six-month deal in June. Since returning, he has recorded six goals and three assists in 21 appearances across all competitions.
His season has been disrupted by injuries, including a hamstring problem sustained just 34 minutes into his first Serie A start of the campaign. That setback ruled him out of five league matches.
Xavier, 61, had been in charge since late April after years of working as an assistant coach at various Brazilian clubs and with the national team. Under his leadership, Santos won just five of 15 matches.
The defeat leaves Santos in a precarious position, sitting two places above the relegation zone, one spot ahead of Vasco, who leapfrogged out of the bottom four with Sunday’s emphatic win.
Santos, who only returned to Serie A last November following their first-ever relegation, face another difficult test in their next match away to fourth-placed Bahia on Sunday, 24 August.