In a moment that perfectly captured Santos’ ongoing struggles, Neymar was visibly frustrated after his teammates appeared to ignore his tactical directions during their 3-2 defeat to Flamengo at the Maracanã. The veteran forward’s reaction quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion about the disconnect between the Brazilian superstar and his teammates.
Neymar’s tactical plea falls on deaf ears
The incident occurred in the 66th minute with Santos trailing 2-0. Neymar, clearly unhappy with his side’s approach, urged his teammates to abandon their ineffective long-ball strategy and focus on building play through short, controlled passes from the back. His frustration reached a boiling point as he dropped deep to take the goal kick himself—an unusual move for the forward—in an attempt to kick-start possession the way he envisioned. Sincerão shared a video of the incident on their X handle, which can be viewed below.
However, his efforts were immediately undermined. Centre-back Luan Peres ignored Neymar’s direction and launched another long ball up the field, which Flamengo easily intercepted. The camera caught Neymar stopping mid-run, raising his arms in disbelief, before shaking his head in exasperation — an image that quickly flooded social media platforms.
A symbol of Santos’ turmoil
For Neymar, who first made his name at Santos before conquering Europe with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, the moment highlighted deeper issues within the squad. The team’s tactical disarray and lack of coordination have been defining features of a turbulent season at Vila Belmiro.
The veteran forward’s body language — part frustration, part resignation — spoke volumes about the ongoing disconnect between Santos’ experienced stars and its younger core. The club’s struggles with consistency, combined with internal confusion over tactics, have only intensified scrutiny on both the coaching staff and the locker room atmosphere.
As Santos continues to battle for form and identity, Neymar’s visible frustration may serve as a turning point — either a call for unity or another reminder of the challenges that lie ahead for one of Brazil’s most storied football institutions.