Video: Neymar hits Vinicius Jr celebration after scoring for Santos

2026-02-27 - 12:57

Neymar marked his first goal of 2026 on Thursday night with a memorable celebration, mimicking the dance moves of his fellow Brazilian and Real Madrid teammate, Vinicius Jr, at the corner flag. The No. 7 has been at the center of a racial controversy over the past week, which began when he scored a spectacular goal against Benfica in the Champions League playoff first leg and celebrated with his signature dance. Vinicius Jr was controversially booked for his own celebration, and Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni allegedly directed racial abuse toward him. José Mourinho suggested that Vinicius Jr’s dancing may have provoked the reaction. Neymar with Vinicius Jr’s celebration vs. Benfica. pic.twitter.com/ONkXHPmU74 — TC (@totalcristiano) February 26, 2026 However, Vinicius Jr had the last laugh, sealing the tie with another brilliant individual goal and repeating his iconic dance at the Bernabéu. Neymar, now back in Brazil, paid tribute to his Seleção teammate by replicating the same moves during Santos’ 2–1 win over Vasco da Gama. Neymar, back to his best, opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a composed right-footed finish into the bottom right corner—eerily reminiscent of Vinicius Jr’s second-leg goal against Benfica. Vasco da Gama equalized just before halftime, but Neymar came alive again in the second half, delicately chipping the goalkeeper to secure victory for his boyhood club. The brace marked only the second time in six months that Neymar scored more than once in a match and his first goals since returning from injury. “Last week they said I was the worst player in the world,” Neymar told SporTV after the match. “Soccer is like that ... one day you are retired, another you have to go to the World Cup. I’m living one day at a time. I’m working, getting in the best possible form.” Vanguard News