Santos avoided relegation from Brazil’s top flight on Sunday, defeating Cruzeiro 3-0 at the Vila Belmiro Stadium to secure their Serie A status. The victory, driven by a Thaciano brace and a header from João Schmidt, ensured the club finished 12th with 47 points, steering clear of what would have been their second relegation in history.
Neymar, playing through pain, was instrumental in the decisive final stretch of the season, helping the team escape the drop zone.
The match saw Santos take control early against a reserve Cruzeiro side, who rested key players ahead of their Brazilian Cup semifinal. Thaciano opened the scoring in the 26th minute and doubled the lead just two minutes later, giving the hosts a comfortable advantage before halftime.
Schmidt sealed the result with a header in the 60th minute. While Neymar didn’t score on the day, his influence as a playmaker was evident, capping a crucial run of form where he netted five goals in the last four matches, including a hat-trick against Juventude and a goal against Sport Recife.
Neymar’s return to his boyhood club in January has been hampered by fitness issues, limiting him to just 19 appearances in the 38-round league campaign. Despite scoring eight goals since his arrival, the forward revealed the physical toll of the last few weeks.
"I came for this, to try to help the best way I can. These have been tough weeks for me," Neymar told reporters. "If it weren't for them i.e. teammates and staff, I wouldn't have played these matches because of these injuries, this knee problem. I need to rest, and then we will have this knee surgery."
The surgery announcement adds another chapter to Neymar’s injury struggles, having previously recovered from a torn ACL sustained in October 2023. With the World Cup approaching in June 2026, his fitness remains a concern for Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who stated in October that Neymar would only be recalled if fully fit.
For Santos, the win brings relief after a turbulent season that saw them flirting with relegation just a year after their promotion back to the elite division. The result also secured a spot in the 2026 Copa Sudamericana. Meanwhile, Flamengo celebrated their ninth league title midweek, adding to their Copa Libertadores triumph last month, while Cruzeiro finished third despite the loss, concluding their best campaign since 2014.
