How Neymar tries to end his career in dignity

The big Neymar is back – at least a little. The comeback of the Brazilian superstar lasted exactly for a half, strictly speaking it was 52 minutes that he was on the lawn in the second half for his youth club, FC Santos. In the end there was 1-1 against the bottom of the table Botafogo FC. Neymar’s performance was solid. “I need more playing time, more games. I’m not at 100 percent, but I didn’t expect to walk as much as this evening,” he said afterwards.

The return of the “lost son” is a big issue in Brazil. You could also see what status he has after the final whistle. Neymar had to shoot Selfies with numerous players of the opponent, who even stood in line. Neymar is not just any superstar, he is the superstar in Brazil, almost in the range of a saint.

Neymar’s comeback is not only exceptional because of his fame, but also sporty. He was injured for a year and a half after moving from Paris Saint-Germain to the Saudi club Al-Hilal to Riad, allegedly for $ 80 million annual salary. After Ronaldo, Neymar was to be the next big superstar in the pimped desert league. Shortly after his change, he suffered a cruciate ligament tear in an international match in October 2023.

The serious injury put him out of action for a year. This was followed by muscle injuries and hardly allowed a mission. Neymar played seven games for Al-Hilal all the time and was sorted out in the end. His commitment was a disaster in the Saudi Professional League. In the end, he probably also lacked the will to work hard for a comeback. Now the logical consequence followed. His Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus sorted him out and Neymar returned to the club, for which he scored 134 goals in 220 games between 2009 and 2013. He received a contract until June of this year.

The question remains whether his body lasts. Neymar is probably one of the most fouled players in history. The brutal knee check of the Colombian Zuniga in the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals was unforgettable. Neymar broke a back vertebra, the tournament in his own country was running for the Brazilian hope. Neymar left a wheelchair for safety and an entire country cried bitter tears. What followed is known: in the semi -finals the Brazilian national team, deprived of its best, met Germany – and went down 1: 7. A trauma for Brazilian football to this day.

It is also part of his history that Neymar worldwide attracts almost as much malice as admiration because he is also one of the most theatrical players. His multiple role is legendary at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Fans added the embarrassing insert in video clips, companies made ironic advertising with it. Neymar was always a big show. On the square and next to it. A stimulus figure for many. For the admirers, however, he was and is the one of the big three (in addition to Ronaldo and Messi) whose playing style was most spectacular and elegant.

Now he wants to fight back. His goal is the World Cup 2026. “I know that it is my last world championship, my last chance,” Neymar recently said to the American television station CNN. “I will do everything to be there.”