Neymar broke into the top 10 of Santos FC’s all-time leading goalscorers this week after scoring twice in a 2-1 win against Vasco da Gama in the Brazilian league.
He also gathered more support in his bid to make Brazil’s squad for the World Cup.
The match on Friday was only the third of the year for the 34-year-old Neymar. He suffered an ACL injury in October 2023 and underwent another knee surgery in December.
Critics were impressed not only by Neymar scoring twice but also by the way he did. The first came from a crossed shot that showed more power and accuracy than he had recently displayed. The second came after a run and a gentle lob over the goalkeeper.
ALSO READ: Premier League 2025-26: Recent wins over Chelsea mean nothing, says Arteta
“Last week some said I was the worst player in the world,” Neymar told local media after the game, in reference to a 2-1 defeat to Novorizontino in the Sao Paulo state championship. “But today I scored twice, and that’s what matters. One day you’re no good, you should retire; on the other, you have to go to the World Cup.”
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly said he will take only players who are 100 per cent fit to the World Cup. But local players, analysts, and coaches are increasingly defending Neymar’s credentials even if he is not at his best.
“I am almost 100% sure he will take Neymar,” former Brazil and Real Madrid coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo told Globo Esporte. “He knows he will need Neymar’s intelligence and skill.”
He became Santos’ 10th highest goalscorer with 151 in two stints. Pelé tops the list with 1,061. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top goalscorer with 79 in 125 matches.
Published on Feb 27, 2026
Source link
#Neymar #scores #historic #brace #Santos #boosts #case #Brazil #World #Cup #squad
![Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28553879.jpg "Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine")
![Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine](https://i2.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28553879.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | College basketball’s tallest player Olivier Rioux heads to UC Irvine Florida center Olivier Rioux (32) greets fans after Florida’s 114-55 win over Prairie View A&M of the NCAA March Madness opening round at Benchmark international Arena in Tampa, FL on Friday, March 20, 2026. .[Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Olivier Rioux, who at 7-foot-9 is the tallest player in college basketball history, has committed to play for UC Irvine. The Canadian center redshirted for Florida during its 2024-25 national championship season and played in just 11 games in 2025-26. “Next stop, Irvine, California,” Rioux wrote Thursday on Instagram. Rioux’s exit follows the commitment of Florida stars Thomas Haugh and Alex Condon to return for the 2026-27 season. Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu has entered the NBA draft but also is expected to return. Rioux finished his Florida career with seven points, six rebounds and one assist in 16 minutes. He had a dunk in the Gators’ first-round NCAA Tournament win against Prairie View A&M on March 20. UC Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title but lost to Hawaii in the league’s tournament. “We are excited to welcome Olivier Rioux to our program,” Anteaters head coach Russell Turner said. “Olivier is a high-character young man whose presence will elevate our team, our university, and our community. He embodies the values that have defined our success at UC Irvine. “We’ve built a strong relationship with Olivier and his family over the years, dating back to his high school recruitment, and that familiarity gives us tremendous belief in who he is both on and off the court. Olivier’s unique skill set and physical presence align perfectly with the tradition of dominant front court players in our program. We believe he will have an immediate impact and continue to grow within our system, and we are thrilled to have him join the Anteater family.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #College #basketballs #tallest #player #Olivier #Rioux #heads #Irvine")
Post Comment