Brazilian football witnessed a significant event on Sunday: the return of Samba icon Neymar da Silva to official action with his boyhood club Santos, following a lengthy absence of several weeks due to delicate surgery on his left knee. This return is expected to boost morale within the team and among the player's fans worldwide, especially with major international competitions approaching.

Details of the return and participation in the Paulista Championship

The 34-year-old veteran striker came on as a substitute at the start of the second half in his team's match against Velo Club in the Paulista regional championship. Neymar entered the field with Santos already leading 3-0, and his commanding presence and skillful touches contributed to doubling the scoreline, as the match ended in a resounding 6-0 victory for Santos. Despite being sidelined since December, Neymar showcased his renowned talent, reminding fans of his gradual recovery and return to match fitness.

A renewed journey with Santos after the Al-Hilal trip

This season has not been easy for the Brazilian star, as he has suffered a series of recurring injuries since returning to Santos after leaving Saudi club Al-Hilal last year. Despite these physical challenges, Neymar played a pivotal and leading role in ensuring the prestigious club's survival in the top division, reflecting his significant moral and technical influence within the dressing room. As a culmination of this historic relationship, the two parties recently reached an agreement to extend his contract with the club until the end of 2026, providing him with technical stability in preparation for the next stage of his career.

The national team's challenge and Ancelotti's complex

On the international stage, Brazil's all-time leading scorer (79 goals, two more than the legendary Pelé) faces a significant challenge in returning to the Seleção. Neymar hasn't played an international match in over two years, specifically since his serious knee injury against Uruguay on October 17, 2023. Adding to the difficulty is the fact that the national team's new coach, the experienced Italian Carlo Ancelotti , who took over last June, has yet to call him up, presenting Neymar with a real test to prove his readiness to the multiple Champions League-winning coach.

Brazil's roadmap to the World Cup

Brazilian fans eagerly await the upcoming squad announcement as the five-time World Cup champions prepare for the next tournament. The Seleção will kick off their campaign on June 13th with a tough match against Morocco, followed by a game against Haiti on June 19th, and will conclude the group stage against Scotland on June 24th. Prior to this official competition, the team will play high-profile friendlies in the United States next March against France and Croatia, matches that could prove crucial in determining Neymar's return to the international squad.

In a scene that embodies the highest meanings of sportsmanship and reflects the moral values ​​that Saudi clubs seek to establish, Al-Kholoud Club finally put an end to the controversial incident that brought together its Argentinian goalkeeper Juan Cuzzani and the ball boy Saleh Al-Anaz, with a warm welcome and an official apology within the club's premises.

The incident stems from a heated match between Al-Kholoud and Al-Najma in the 22nd round of the Saudi Professional League (Roshan League), a game that ended in a 2-1 victory for Al-Najma. The final minutes of the match were marked by palpable tension due to the pressure of the scoreline. This led to Al-Kholoud's Argentinian goalkeeper, Cosani, pushing a ball boy as he attempted to restart play quickly. This action was met with widespread disapproval from the fans and prompting immediate intervention from referee Khalid Al-Ahmari, who issued a yellow card to the goalkeeper.

The management of Al-Kholoud Club did not stop at administrative penalties or the digital apology posted by the player in a video immediately after the match. Instead, they sought to transform the negative situation into a positive lesson in sportsmanship. The management extended an official invitation to the child, Saleh Al-Anaz, to visit the club headquarters, where he was personally received by goalkeeper Kozani. This gesture aimed to appease the child and his family and resolve any tension that might have arisen from the incident.

This initiative comes amidst major transformations in Saudi sports, where competition is no longer confined to the pitch but extends to behavioral and professional aspects. Observers affirm that Al-Khulood's swift response and containment of the crisis reflects administrative maturity and a deep understanding of clubs' responsibility towards society, especially given the increasing global attention the Saudi league receives, making maintaining the competition's positive image a top priority for the entire sports system.

On a psychological and educational level, experts believe that such initiatives leave a profound impact on young people and the public, reinforcing the principle that mistakes are inevitable in the high-pressure world of sports, but apologizing for them and correcting them is the true measure of professionalism. The photos of the visit, posted on the club's official account, received a wide and positive response, with the club commenting: "We were honored today by a visit from our dear brother Saleh Al-Anaz, the ball boy in our match against Al-Najma, at the club headquarters today... You brightened the place, Saleh!".

The visit concluded with the Argentine goalkeeper presenting his own jersey as a gift to the child Saleh, in a friendly gesture that completely put an end to the dispute and confirmed that human relations remain above the results of matches and the tensions of the stadiums, so that calm returned to the Al-Kholoud camp in preparation for the upcoming challenges with high morale.

In a thrilling encounter in the 25th round of the Italian Serie A, defending champions Napoli snatched a valuable late draw against their closest rivals, Roma, with a final score of 2-2. This draw salvaged some pride for the southern Italian side amidst their current struggles, thanks in large part to a late goal from new Brazilian signing Alisson Santos just eight minutes before the final whistle.

This match, historically known as the "Derby del Sole" (Derby of the Sun), holds special significance beyond just the three points; it represents a traditional struggle for supremacy in central and southern Italy. Both teams entered the game under immense pressure: Napoli sought to appease their fans after a shocking penalty shootout defeat to Coppa Italia quarter-finalists Coppa Italia, while Roma aimed to close the gap and forcefully break into the top four.

With this result, Napoli raised its tally to 50 points, maintaining third place, three points ahead of Roma, which reached 47 points. Despite Roma missing the opportunity to draw level on points with Napoli, the "Wolves" benefited from Juventus' stumble and its loss in the crazy "Derby d'Italia" against league leaders Inter by a score of 3-4, allowing Roma to climb to fourth place, just one point behind the Old Lady, thus intensifying the battle for Champions League qualification spots in the upcoming rounds.

Technically, the match began with both sides applying pressure. Dutchman Donyell Malen, on loan from Aston Villa, surprised the home side with an early goal for Roma in the seventh minute following a counter-attack led by Spaniard Bryan Zaragoza. However, Napoli showed their mettle before halftime, with Leonardo Spinazzola equalizing in the 40th minute with a powerful shot that deflected off a defender and into the net. In the second half, Roma regained the lead through a penalty successfully converted by Malen in the 70th minute, before substitute Alisson Santos intervened, firing a low shot in the 82nd minute to secure a point for Antonio Conte's team.

Elsewhere in the same round, Bologna kept their European hopes alive with a crucial 2-1 away win against Torino. The match was marred by widespread protests from Torino fans against the club's management, leaving the stands nearly empty. Santiago Castro and an own goal by Vlasic secured the victory for Bologna, lifting them to 33 points and eighth place in the standings.

In other matches, Sassuolo secured a valuable 2-1 victory over Udinese thanks to goals from Armand Llorente and Andrea Pinamonti, strengthening their mid-table position with 32 points. The round also saw a dramatic 2-1 win for Parma against Hellas Verona, with Matteo Pellegrino scoring a last-gasp winner after Verona were down to ten men. Meanwhile, Genoa and Cremonese played out a goalless draw.