Neymar’s behavior in the Santos game has repercussions in Europe with harsh criticism: ‘It was regrettable’ By Thiago Lemos
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Santos’ qualification for the quarter-finals of the Copa do Brasil, on August 5, 2026, gained prominence in the European press, but not just because of the sporting result. Neymar’s conduct after the confrontation with Remo had repercussions in outlets in Spain and France, which described the number 10 as a protagonist for controversial reasons and used harsh terms to characterize his stance, which fuels the debate about his recurring behavior in moments of pressure.
The incident occurred shortly after Santos’ victory, built on an assist from Neymar for the goal scored by Rony. Upon leaving the field, the attacker responded to provocations from the fans, got involved in discussions with members of the Remo delegation and exchanged more provocations in the tunnel leading to the changing rooms. The scenes quickly circulated on social media and received wide international coverage.
Spanish newspapers criticize Neymar for losing control after Santos’ victory
In Spain, the newspaper AS stated that Neymar was once again the “center of attention”, but this time for negative reasons. The newspaper described the night as “anything but peaceful” for the player, writing that the Brazilian “completely lost his mind” after the final whistle of the match, highlighting discussions with opponents, managers and fans of the team from Pará.
The Spanish publication detailed that “it was not a peaceful night for Neymar Junior. The Brazilian star was once again a protagonist, but this time in a negative way. His images after the World Cup game for Santos against Remo are going around the world. The former PSG player clashed with the fans, with the opposing players and with the president and the board. He completely lost control.”
The Mundo Deportivo outlet adopted an even more forceful tone. He classified the outcome of the match as “regrettable” and published that Neymar was “completely out of control”, stating that the attacker shouted, provoked and mocked Remo players and managers during the widespread confusion.
The publication Marca also covered the episode and highlighted the “various gestures of anger” made by number 10 towards the opposing fans, after confirming Santos’ classification.
French publications detail the athlete’s excessive euphoria and provocations
In France, the newspaper L’Équipe highlighted that Neymar once again made headlines more for his explosive attitude than for his performance on the field. The newspaper recalled that the Brazilian participated directly in the Santos classification by providing the assist for the only goal of the match, but ended up monopolizing the attention in the mixed zone after the final whistle.
In the publication’s description, the number 10 appeared “extremely effusive” in the mixed zone, celebrating in front of Remo’s players, coaching staff and directors, before provoking the opposing delegation with shouts of “eliminated”. The French outlet also reproduced the harsh criticism of the president of the Pará club, Antônio Carlos Teixeira, regarding the striker’s stance after the game.
