Tears and a full stadium: how Santos welcomed Neymar after nearly 13 years

For everyone at Santos, it was an emotional moment—after 12 and a half years, their star Neymar returned to the club. And he was welcomed home in fitting fashion.

Details: Despite the late hour (around 11:00 PM local time), a full stadium—holding approximately 17,000 fans—gathered to witness Neymar’s presentation at Santos.

Many prominent figures within the club couldn’t hide their emotions. Some were overjoyed, while others were moved to tears.

At the press conference, the winger stated that while he and his family enjoyed their time in Saudi Arabia, his lack of playing opportunities at Al-Hilal ultimately led him to return to Santos.

Reminder: Neymar previously played for the Brazilian club from 2009 to 2013. During that time, he made 225 appearances across all competitions, scoring 136 goals and providing 64 assists.