Neymar's Hat-Trick Sparks Santos' Escape from Relegation Shadow
4 December 2025
Neymar's Hat-Trick Lifts Santos From Relegation Shadows
In a standout display, veteran Neymar scored a hat-trick as Santos beat Juventude 3-0 in the Brasileirão, pulling his club away from relegation danger with one round to spare.
The goals came in the 6th and 65th minutes, followed by a 73rd-minute penalty, bringing Neymar to 150 goals for the club where his professional journey began.
Speaking to Santos after the win, the 33-year-old expressed happiness and thanked teammates who have been part of the squad over the years.
It was Neymar's first treble since April 2022, when he was with Paris Saint-Germain, in a 6-1 win at Clermont in Ligue 1.
Neymar had been sidelined with a right thigh injury in mid-September but returned in early November, and since then he has tallied five goals in his last three appearances.
Santos sit 14th with 44 points, two points behind Vitória in 17th, the last side in the relegation zone, ahead of the final round.
Next up, Santos travel to Cruzeiro (third) in a tough test to secure top-flight status for next season.
Punchline 1: If method acting were real, Neymar would star as the guy who makes a hat-trick look routine. Punchline 2: In football terms, that isn’t a hat trick—it’s a care package for the relegation-threatened club. Enjoy the glow, Santos fans!
