Neymar Celebrates Vinicius Junior's Historic Santos Achievement with Heartfelt Tribute
Neymar netted his inaugural goal of 2026 on Thursday evening and marked the occasion by mimicking compatriot Vinicius Junior's signature dance routine at the corner flag.
The Real Madrid winger has found himself embroiled in a racial controversy throughout the past week, which began with his characteristic celebration following a brilliant strike against Benfica in the Champions League knockout phase playoff first leg.
The match official puzzlingly cautioned Vinicius Jr for his celebration, after which Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni reportedly directed racial slurs toward him. José Mourinho subsequently suggested the Brazilian's dancing provoked such behavior.
Vinicius Jr ultimately had the final word when he clinched the tie with another outstanding solo effort and performed the dance once more, this time at the Santiago Bernabéu. Now, Neymar has joined the movement from Brazil, paying tribute to his national team colleague with identical choreography.
Neymar Jr hits the Vinicius Jr celebration after scoring for Santos! 🕺🏾🇧🇷@TeamNey10 🎥 pic.twitter.com/CK2NJiXMzO
Neymar Delivers Powerful Performance in Santos Victory
Neymar Delivers Powerful Performance in Santos Victory
While Neymar's tribute may have captured social media attention, he also dazzled on the field during Santos' 2–1 triumph over Vasco da Gama. The 34-year-old broke the deadlock in the 25th minute with a composed right-footed strike into the lower right corner, remarkably reminiscent of Vinicius Jr's goal in the Benfica second leg.
The away team managed to level the score just before halftime, but Neymar responded brilliantly in the second period, delivering an elegant chip over the keeper to seal victory for his childhood club.
This double represents just the second occasion in six months where Neymar has scored multiple goals in a single match, marking his first goals since recovering from injury.
"Last week they claimed I was the worst player globally," the Brazilian superstar told SporTV post-match. "Football is unpredictable ... one moment you're considered finished, the next you're World Cup-bound. I'm taking each day as it comes. I'm training hard, striving for peak condition."
Neymar's Path to Carlo Ancelotti's 2026 World Cup Selection
Neymar's Path to Carlo Ancelotti's 2026 World Cup Selection
Brazil's new manager Carlo Ancelotti has not selected Neymar since assuming control of the national squad last May. The Italian tactician has instead prioritized developing emerging talents like Estêvão and João Pedro.
Naturally, Neymar's injury concerns also hindered Ancelotti's ability to utilize Brazil's record goalscorer. However, the Barcelona icon is now healthy and finding the net again at an opportune moment.
The sole pathway for Neymar to secure a spot in Ancelotti's World Cup roster requires maintaining fitness over an extended duration. Any relapse or fresh injury would virtually eliminate the already narrow chances of the attacker participating in the tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico in four months.
If Neymar maintains his health and fully recaptures his peak performance, Ancelotti would face difficulty excluding him this summer. The initial crucial evaluation arrives next month when the 66-year-old announces his roster for Brazil's March exhibitions against France and Croatia.