With less than a week to go before Brazil’s final World Cup squad announcement, Neymar is on the verge of recording his best scoring run since returning to Santos.
Neymar celebrates a goal for Santos against Deportivo Recoleta (PAR) in the Copa Sudamericana. Image: MAURÍCIO DE SOUZA/AGIF
On Wednesday (13), Santos visits Coritiba at Couto Pereira, in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil fifth round. If he finds the net, the No. 10 will repeat a feat he last achieved in 2022 during his PSG days—scoring in three consecutive matches.
Back then, he punished Lille, Monaco, and Toulouse in succession in Ligue 1, highlighted by a 7-1 thrashing of Lille where he bagged two goals and three assists.
Two Goals in Last Two Matches
Currently, Neymar has scored in his last two games, against Recoleta and Red Bull Bragantino. A goal at Couto Pereira could not only secure Santos a spot in the round of 16 of the country’s top knockout competition but also send a strong message to Carlo Ancelotti that—beyond his recovered fitness—his scoring instincts are sharp for the World Cup.
The Brazil head coach will announce the 26-man squad for the tournament on Monday (18) at 5 PM. Neymar is already on the Italian manager’s preliminary list.
Best Streak of His Second Stint
Neymar’s most prolific stretch during his second spell at Santos came in the final stretch of last season, though not in consecutive games. As the club fought relegation in the Brasileirão, he scored against Mirassol, missed a match against Internacional, and then returned to net against Sport and bagged a hat-trick against Juventude.