Neymar Jr. struck the only goal for Santos in a 1-1 draw with Deportivo Recoleta at Vila Belmiro, ending the Brazilian side's Copa Sudamericana group stage campaign on a sour note. The Paraguayan club, in its first international outing, equalised late, leaving Santos bottom of Group E after a shaky first half and a missed penalty.

The strike marked Neymar’s first goal since returning from a long injury layoff, but the celebration was short-lived. As the team exited the pitch, boos erupted, and the forward exchanged heated words with a fan, later calling him “chubby” and demanding he train harder. The incident drew sharp criticism from supporters who expect professionalism today.

Neymar defended the club’s performance, admitting collective mistakes yet insisting opportunities were created. He blamed fatigue and the pressure from fans, saying the ball sometimes simply doesn’t fall in. The Santos manager will face scrutiny as the team hunts for points to escape the bottom of the group before the next round of fixtures.

With a recent knee operation and a follow‑up procedure, Neymar eyes a spot on Brazil’s squad for the World Cup in June. The incident, however, may dent his reputation at a club that now must regroup if it hopes to climb out of the group’s lowest tier before the tournament’s opening match next week.