Santos FC secured their first victory in the Brasileirao Betano 2026 this Thursday, defeating Vasco da Gama 2-1 at Vila Belmiro in the fourth round of the competition. The undisputed star of the match was Neymar, who scored both goals, marking his first strikes for 'Peixe' since last December.

After three goalless matches, Neymar finally broke his duck in 2026, scoring his first goal of the season in the 25th minute of the first half. He received a pass near the box and, with his trademark right-footed curled shot, beat goalkeeper Leo Jardim to open the scoring. The star celebrated by 'dancing' by the corner flag, a clear reference to Vinicius Jr's celebrations in the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Benfica.

However, Vasco da Gama quickly responded, with Cauan Barros leveling the score after capitalizing on a low cross from Andres Gomez.

Cards and On-Pitch Altercation

The first half of the match also saw a tense atmosphere, as Neymar and Vasco da Gama midfielder Thiago Mendes clashed on the pitch, resulting in yellow cards for both players.

Neymar Decides Again in the Second Half

Returning for the second half, Neymar shone once more, scoring the winning goal for Santos FC. Capitalizing on a defensive error by Vasco da Gama, the forward found himself free, one-on-one with Leo Jardim, and delivered a subtle chip over the goalkeeper, putting 'Alvinegro Praiano' back in front.

Vasco da Gama attempted to react, creating several attacking opportunities, but continued to struggle with their finishing. Santos FC, while not particularly efficient in their own conclusions, managed to hold onto the lead and secure all three points at home.

Team Standings

With the victory, Santos FC climbed out of the relegation zone (Z4) and now boasts their first win of the tournament. Vasco da Gama, led by interim coach Bruno Lazaroni following the dismissal of Fernando Diniz, remains winless in the competition and sits at the bottom of the table with just one point from four rounds.

The clash marked a reunion between the two teams after Vasco da Gama's fateful 6-0 thrashing of Santos FC at Morumbi in last year's Brasileirao.

Historic Achievement

With this 'brace', Neymar now has 152 goals for the 'Alvinegro' shirt, entering the 'Top 10' all-time leading scorers for the Vila-based team.

1) Pele: 1,091 goals

2) Pepe: 403 goals

3) Coutinho: 368 goals

4) Toninho Guerreiro: 279 goals

5) Feitico: 214 goals

6) Dorval: 194 goals

7) Araken Patusca: 184 goals

8) Edu: 184 goals

9) Pagao: 157 goals

10) Neymar: 152 goals

31 Oct2023	Real Madrid	-	Renewal
12 Jul2018	Flamengo	Real Madrid	€45M
08 May2017	Flamengo SP U20	Flamengo	Free transfer

Vinícius

Transfer History