- Kane becomes first Englishman in 25 years to win Ballon d’Or, Putellas claims third |
- Tarique Seeks to Turn Bangladesh-Japan Ties Into Prosperity |
- Cyclone Arnab Becomes Extremely Severe, Ports Hoist Signal 3 |
- Tarique Rahman, Takaichi Hold Bilateral Summit in Tokyo |
- Tarique, Takaichi begin bilateral summit in Tokyo |
Neymar Hits Back at Critics with Santos Double
Neymar answered his critics in style, scoring twice to lead Santos to a 2–1 league victory over Vasco da Gama and boost his hopes of earning a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
The 34-year-old forward had not scored since December and recently returned from knee surgery. Still working toward full match fitness, Neymar delivered when it mattered on Thursday.
“Last week they said I was the worst player in the world. Today I scored two goals, and that’s what counts,” he told SporTV.
“That’s football. One day you’re finished or ‘retired’; the next, people say you should go to the World Cup.”
Neymar described the match as only his third appearance of the year and just his second full 90 minutes. He admitted experiencing cramps late in the game but called it part of his recovery process.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer has not played for the national team since October 2023 due to a series of injuries. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said only fully fit players will be considered for selection.
The upcoming World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States from June 11 to July 19.