The return of the king

Neymar re-joining Santos is the biggest return to Brazilian football in exactly 30 years, since Romario turned his back on Barcelona at the start of 1995 and signed for Flamengo.

-  John Duerden

True, in the following three decades both Ronaldo and Ronaldinho went back home. Both, of course, were huge stars, and they had their moments in Brazil. But it was generally accepted that their best days were behind them. That was not the case with Romario, who was just turning 29 when he came back across the Atlantic.

Just a few months earlier, he had been the star name in Brazil's USA '94 World Cup triumph and had just won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. Theoretically, then, he was at the peak of his powers, although in reality his level of motivation was variable and his displays of genius sporadic. But he had climbed the twin peaks and set the measure by which the career of Neymar has always been judged. World Player of the Year awards would now seem to be a long shot, but there is a genuine hope that Neymar can step back into the Brazil side and have one last successful crack at the World Cup next year.

But Neymar is older than Romario was at the time. He turned 33 on the day that he made his debut in this second spell with the club where it all started. And he has an alarming injury record, with very little football behind him since suffering a serious knee problem playing for Brazil back in October of 2023.

As a footballer, then, he starts his time with Santos as an unknown quantity. He was greeted with a long, elaborate and well-organised party at the tight, little stadium of Santos, within sight of the mausoleum where Pele lies. Until he sorts himself out with a house in the area, he travels to work each day in a helicopter that picks him up at his mansion on the Rio de Janeiro coast. There is a massive media circus around him and his every move. But there is a question at the heart of what promises to be one of the global game’s most interesting storylines over the next few months: is he capable of meeting the expectations? Can the 2025 model Neymar continue to tip the balance at the highest level?