Neymar marked his return for Santos with a late goal, but the night also brought a setback for the Brazil icon. In his first appearance since Brazil's last-16 exit at the 2026 World Cup, the forward helped Santos avoid defeat in a home draw with bottom-side Chapecoense.
The key moment came late in the match when Neymar converted an 89th-minute penalty. That goal rescued a point for Santos and gave supporters an immediate reminder of the quality the club hopes he can bring after his time away from action.
Even so, Neymar's Santos return did not end cleanly. The striker also received a ban, leaving him unavailable for the next game. That suspension took some shine off what had looked like a dramatic comeback performance.
For Santos, the result was mixed. Neymar's goal delivered a valuable late equaliser, but dropping points at home to the team sitting at the bottom of the table will still feel frustrating. His return generated major attention, and the combination of a decisive penalty and a suspension ensured it was an eventful first match back.
