Santos star Neymar Jr was reduced to tears after suffering the worst defeat of his career against his Brazil teammate Philippe Coutinho, who played for Vasco da Gama.

 

Neymar of Santos reacts during a Brasileirao 2025 match between Santos and Vasco da Gama © Alexandre SchneiderNeymar of Santos reacts during a Brasileirao 2025 match between Santos and Vasco da Gama

Santos faced Vasco da Gama in a decisive Serie A clash and suffered a crushing 6-0 defeat, a result that leaves them in serious trouble in the standings. Both clubs entered the match battling relegation, making it a crucial contest. Neymar Jr could not make an impact for Santos, while Philippe Coutinho stepped up in style for Vasco.

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This loss marked the worst defeat of Neymar’s career, a devastating blow as Santos continue their fight to avoid relegation. The No. 10 left the field in tears and had to be consoled by head coach Fernando Diniz. To make matters worse, Neymar picked up his third yellow card of the season, which rules him out of the next match against Bahia.

Santos now sit on 21 points in 15th place, slipping dangerously close to the relegation zone. The result also had immediate consequences off the field, as head coach Cleber Xavier was dismissed by the club’s board right after the final whistle.

What Neymar said after the match

After the game, Neymar did not hide his frustration. “I’m embarrassed. I’m totally disappointed with our performance,” he told reporters. “The fans have every right to protest, obviously without violence… But if they want to curse and insult us, they are in their right.”

“It’s an extreme shame. I had never experienced something like this in my life. Unfortunately, it happened,” he continued. Asked about his tears, Neymar admitted: “The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I can’t help at all. Honestly, it was total crap — that’s the reality.”

Neymar’s worst defeats in his career

Since turning professional in 2009 under head coach Vagner Mancini, Neymar has worn the shirts of Santos, Barcelona, PSG, Al Hilal and the Brazil national team. Until now, the heaviest defeat he had experienced was 4-0, which happened twice.

The first came with Santos in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup final against Barcelona. More than five years later, while at Barcelona, Neymar was on the pitch for a Champions League 4-0 defeat to PSG.

Beyond those, all other losses in his career came by narrower margins. Some may point to Brazil’s infamous 7-1 World Cup semifinal defeat to Germany in 2014, but Neymar did not play in that match. Despite being the centerpiece of that Brazil team, he had been ruled out after suffering an injury in the quarterfinal against Colombia.