Neymar scores a hat-trick despite injury, rescuing Santos from relegation

Last week, Neymar had a meniscus injury in his left knee and is expected to undergo arthroscopic surgery once the season ends. Despite receiving treatment to manage the pain, the former Barcelona star still played the last two Santos matches. 

Most recently, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Juventude within 17 minutes. The Brazilian played with protective gear, similar to what he wore in previous matches. His influence on Santos’ attack was significant, much like in their recent clash with Sport, where he scored and provided an assist in another 3-0 triumph.

Neymar scored the opener in the 56th minute after a rapid counter-attack. He added his second less than 10 minutes later, guiding home an Igor Vinícius cross with precision. The 33 year-old sealed his hat-trick from the penalty spot shortly before being subbed off in the 83rd minute.

This is the first time Neymar netted three goals in one game since April 2022, when he last scored a hat-trick for Paris Saint-Germain against Clermont. 

The 3-0 victory against Juventude today played a key role in Santos’ relegation fight in the penultimate round of the Brasileirão. They climbed to 44 points and moved into 14th place, giving them a narrow two-point buffer above the relegation zone as they approach the final matchday.

Santos will host Cruzeiro at Vila Belmiro next Sunday in their final match of the season, where a victory would guarantee their place in the top flight. Juventude, already relegated before kickoff, fell to a fourth straight defeat in the closing rounds.