Brazilian icon Neymar was left in tears after suffering the heaviest defeat of his career on Sunday night.
The forward, 33, rejoined boyhood club Santos earlier this year after a nightmare 18-month spell at Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal where he was riddled by injuries.
Neymar has had a mixed impact back in his homeland, scoring six goals and adding three assists in 19 games, but Santos are 15th in the Brazilian top flight and just two points clear of the relegation zone.
And on Sunday, things reached a nadir for Neymar as Santos were beaten 6-0 by Vasco da Gama.
The defeat was the biggest of the Brazilian’s career and came after former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho scored twice for Vasco.
Neymar was subsequently overcome with emotion at full-time and was consoled on the pitch by a member of the club’s coaching staff.
As he then headed towards the tunnel, the 33-year-old could be seen in tears which he was forced to wipe away with his shirt.
The previous heaviest loss of his career came back in September 2015 when Barcelona were beaten 4-1 by Celta Vigo in LaLiga.
Following his emotional outburst, Neymar was extremely strong in his assessment of Santos’ performance while he explained why he was crying.
‘I’m ashamed,’ Neymar said. ‘I’m totally disappointed with our performance.
‘The fans have every right to protest, obviously without using violence… but if they want to curse and insult, they’re in their right.’
‘It’s a feeling of extreme shame. I’ve never experienced this in my life. Unfortunately, it happened.
‘The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I can’t help in every way. Anyway, it was total s***, that’s the reality.’
In the immediate aftermath of the dire defeat, Santos then sacked their head coach Cleber Xavier as they attempt to rescue their season.
During Sunday’s game, Coutinho’s brace was added to by goals from Lucas Piton, David Correa De Fonseca, Rayan and Danilo Neves.
Coutinho recently rejoined Vasco, who are his boyhood club, on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell last season as he looks to get his career back on track.
Meanwhile, Neymar, who is Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer, initially came back to Santos on a short-term deal in January, with the forward expressing his aim to retain top form ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
He subsequently extended his contract until the end of the year in June, with the option for a further six months.
At the time, club president Marcelo Teixeira claimed Neymar’s return to his boyhood club had resulted in significant commercial benefits for the club alongside record-breaking social media growth.
He added: ‘Our idol, our boy, the prince with our number 10 shirt, remains.’
Elsewhere, speaking back in January on his romantic return to Santos, Neymar had expressed his delight at the move.
‘(I’ve been) wishing for this moment to come true for a long time,’ he said.
‘We’re helping each other, Santos are helping me, they’ve opened doors for me to rediscover soccer, to rediscover joy,’ he said.
‘I didn’t want to sign a long contract because I didn’t know how I was going to come back.
‘I didn’t know how I was going to feel during these months. Let’s enjoy these moments, it’s the start of a great era for Santos.’
Then, after he extended his contract in June, Neymar added: ‘I made a decision and I listened to my heart. Santos is not just my team, it is my home, my roots, my history and my life.
‘Here I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved. Here I can be myself, truly happy. And it is here that I want to fulfil the dreams that are missing in my career.
‘And nothing will stop me. I go, I come back and I stay. Where it all began and where it will never end.’
Santos are now just two points clear of Vasco following the heavy defeat and are next in action on Sunday when they travel to Bahia.
