Neymar has forcefully responded to intense criticism from Brazilian football enthusiasts, who have accused the superstar of intentionally avoiding high-stakes matches in favor of playing only against lesser opponents. As Santos prepared for the second leg of the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals against Palmeiras, the forward has delivered a sharp and direct rebuttal to his vocal critics.
The scrutiny surrounding the 33-year-old intensifies after he was left out of the matchday squad for the opening leg against Palmeiras last Wednesday. Although the club cited concerns over the artificial turf at Allianz Parque as the reason for his absence, the subsequent 3-0 defeat drew heavy fire, with many questioning the icon’s absence during one of the club’s most critical matches of the season.
Speaking directly to broadcast network Premiere, Neymar addressed the criticism head-on, asserting that the accusations could not be further from the truth. “They said I came to play against small teams, and it was never like that. Quite the contrary, I’ve always liked big games, because that’s where you see who the best players are. My entire career has been like that, and it’s not for nothing that, if I’m not mistaken, I’m the 3rd or 4th top scorer in finals,” Neymar stated.
Neymar’s self-assessment is backed by impressive historical data, as he currently ranks fourth all-time in career goals scored in finals with 21 goals. He trails only an elite tier of legendary figures, sitting behind Cristiano Ronaldo with 25 goals, Pelé with 31, and Lionel Messi at the top of the list with 35 goals in cup finals.
The Santos playmaker then offered clarity regarding how his omission from the first leg against Palmeiras actually unfolded. He revealed that he was fully available and even went so far as to request customized boots with shorter studs from Puma to play on the turf, but emphasized that the final decision rested entirely with the coaching staff. “Unfortunately, lately, I ended up getting hurt. Against Palmeiras, I was available, I even had adapted boots. It was a boot with shorter studs, for turf, I asked Puma to make them. But it was a decision by the coaching staff to leave me out of the game. If the game had ended 0-0 or 1-1, everyone would be calling Cuca ‘Master Cuca’,” he noted regarding the team’s manager.
Through the 2026 season following his recovery from major knee surgery, Neymar has produced eight goals and eight assists across 23 appearances, operating as the central catalyst for Santos’ attack. However, a combination of workload management, suspensions, and minor physical setbacks has forced him to miss 14 matches for Peixe, fueling the narrative surrounding his availability.
Neymar aiming to ‘have fun’ in second leg against Palmeiras
Bouncing back from his night off against Palmeiras, Neymar rejoined the starting lineup for the derby against Corinthians, creating four key chances, completing two dribbles, and drawing three fouls in a gritty 1-0 win to keep Santos climbing away from the bottom four. Now holding a four-point cushion over Vasco da Gama in the relegation zone, attention shifts squarely back to the Copa do Brasil.
On Wednesday, September 2, Santos host Palmeiras at Vila Belmiro tasked with overturning a steep three-goal aggregate deficit, though Neymar remains optimistic about their chances: “I didn’t expect a 3-0, but that’s football… there are comebacks, there are games where the extraordinary happens. Who knows, maybe it can happen on Wednesday… We’re going to play to have fun.”
The Santos icon concluded by placing the competitive pressure squarely on their cross-state rivals heading into the return leg. “The game is 0-0 for us, and for me is just another game for me to have fun. The responsibility belongs to the second best team in the country, which is Palmeiras,” Neymar added.
