Sports
Neymar ends drought with brace to ignite Santos, World Cup hopes
Neymar Jr., the mercurial Brazilian forward whose career has been a mix of brilliance, setbacks, and controversy, reminded the football world of his enduring talent with a two-goal performance in Santos’ 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama on Thursday.
The display not only rescued vital points for his boyhood club but also reignited debate over his potential inclusion in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At 34, Neymar’s path back to form has been interrupted by injuries, including knee surgery late last year and a long absence from the national team.
Yet, against Vasco at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, he demonstrated that flair and instinct remain intact.
Breaking the drought
This was Neymar’s third appearance of the season and only his second full 90 minutes.
Critics had questioned whether the winger could still influence matches after going nearly two months without a goal, his last coming in December 2025.
Neymar silenced the doubters emphatically. His first goal came in the 35th minute, a clinical finish inside the box from a Joao Schmidt through ball.
The second, in the 68th minute, was pure Neymar: he nutmegged a defender on the left flank and curled a 20-yard shot into the top corner.
Vasco’s Dimitri Payet pulled one back late, but Santos held on, climbing to mid-table early in the Serie A season.
Post-match, Neymar addressed critics with characteristic candor. “Last week they said I was the worst player in the world. Today I scored two goals, and that’s what matters,” he told SporTV. “One day you’re no good or you’re ‘retired’; the next, people say you have to go to the World Cup.” He acknowledged lingering fatigue but emphasized progress: “This was my third game of the year and only my second full 90 minutes. I felt some cramping at the end, but that’s part of the process.”
Return to Santos
Neymar’s journey back to Santos, where he began as a 17-year-old in 2009, was seen as a chance to revive his career after a troubled stint at Al-Hilal from 2023 to 2025, where injuries limited him to just three appearances.
He played a decisive role in helping Santos avoid relegation in the 2025 season, scoring five goals in the final five games.
A contract extension in January 2026 signaled his commitment, but fitness remained a challenge.
A meniscus operation in December 2025 in Doha, intended to correct lingering knee pain from an ACL tear in 2023, delayed his full return.
Since leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar has battled a cascade of injuries that sidelined him from the national team for over two years, his last cap coming in October 2023.
World Cup aspirations at stake
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 caps, Neymar’s legacy is secure, yet a World Cup trophy has eluded him.
With the 2026 tournament approaching in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., he faces a race against time to regain full fitness.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has emphasized that only fully fit players will make the squad, leaving Neymar on the fringe despite his experience.
After his brace against Vasco, Neymar remained measured about his World Cup chances.
Speaking to Caze, he said, “I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year. It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.” He acknowledged the year ahead as pivotal: “This year is very important, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too.”
Career defined by brilliance and resilience
Hints of retirement at 34, Neymar is placed alongside stars like Messi and Ronaldo, navigating football’s twilight years.
From his debut at 17, scoring 107 goals in 225 games for Santos, to record-breaking transfers and multiple league titles, his career has been remarkable.
Internationally, he led Brazil to the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2016 Olympic gold, though World Cup glory has eluded him.
LaMelo Ball alternated between spectacular plays and costly mistakes as the Charlotte Hornets edged the Miami Heat 127-126 in overtime Tuesday to knock them out of the NBA play-in tournament.
Charlotte had never won a win-or-go-home postseason game in 12 previous attempts and looked in danger of extending that record after blowing a 125-120 lead with 26 seconds remaining to allow Miami to edge ahead 126-125.
After Miami star Tyler Herro sank a superb corner 3-pointer to make it 125-123, Ball carelessly turned over possession and then gave away three free throws with a rash lunge on Herro.
Herro drained all three shots to give Miami the lead with just nine seconds left.
Ball, however, made amends with a determined driving layup to make it 127-126 before an athletic block from Miles Bridges snuffed out Miami’s last-gasp attempt to win it.
“We stuck with it and ground it out,” Ball said. “We wasn’t hitting our threes, all the shots weren’t hitting, but we stuck with it.”
Ball was at the center of controversy over an incident in the second quarter, which led to Miami star Bam Adebayo hobbling out of the game.
After being blocked during a drive to the basket, Ball reached out and tripped Adebayo with a tug on his standing leg, sending the Miami star crashing to the hardwood. He played no further part in the game.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra was furious that Ball escaped an ejection.
“The referees are there for what? How did they not see that? I don’t want this to be an excuse, Charlotte was incredible at the end,” Spoelstra fumed.
“I don’t think that’s cute. I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s a stupid play. It’s a dangerous play. Our best player is out.
“(LaMelo) should be penalized for that. I don’t think that belongs in the game, tripping guys, shenanigans. Someone has got to see that. And he should have been thrown out of the game for that.”
The victory means Charlotte, beaten in their two previous appearances in the play-in tournament in 2021 and 2022, remain alive in the postseason while Miami are eliminated.
Charlotte will face the loser of Wednesday’s Eastern Conference play-in game between the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic and seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.
The reward for the winner of that game Friday is a first-round playoff series against top seeds Detroit.
In Tuesday’s Western Conference play-in game, a sensational 41-point display from Israeli forward Deni Avdija inspired the Portland Trail Blazers to a 114-110 upset of the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix looked to be heading into a first-round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs after moving into an eight-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
But a dazzling late burst of scoring from Portland, who went on a 17-5 run to close the game, means the Suns must now play either the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Clippers in the final round of the play-in to advance to the playoffs.
Avdija was backed by 21 points from Jrue Holiday, while Jerami Grant added 16 points from the bench.
Jalen Green led Phoenix with 35 points while Devin Booker finished with 22 points.
Late goals from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise meant Bayern Munich finally got the better of Real Madrid in another enthralling game Wednesday to march into the Champions League semifinals.
Real’s Arda Güler scored twice, but Bayern won 6-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinal after a 4-3 second-leg victory in Munich that will live long in the memory. They face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last four in late April and early May.
A terrible first-minute kick-out by Manuel Neuer, who was superb in a thrilling first leg, allowed Real’s Güler to fire into an empty net from 25 meters for his maiden Champions League goal.
It was a quick and sudden blow for six-time champions Bayern, who had dominated for long spells while winning 2-1 in Madrid last week.
But the home side soon leveled to lead the tie again, Real keeper Andriy Lunin this time at fault as Aleksandar Pavlovic headed in a corner while standing on the line.
Güler then bent in a free kick just before the half-hour mark, with Neuer arguably exposed again before Harry Kane scored with aplomb to put Bayern back ahead.
Kylian Mbappe netted his 15th goal of the Champions League season from Vinicius Junior’s slick pass before the break to leave the game poised for extra time. Bayern appealed for a foul early in the build-up, but were waved away.
The drama slowed slightly in the second half, but a second booking for Real substitute Eduardo Camavinga late in the half boosted the hosts.
Colombia’s Diaz then struck on 89 minutes and Olise in stoppage time as Bayern ended a run of four successive defeats against the 15-time record champions in knock-out ties in the elite European event.
The last Bayern home win against Real was in the 2012 semifinals when the Bavarians ultimately also progressed.
Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich told DAZN: “A lot of drama. We didn’t start like we hoped. But we knew at halftime, the longer the game went, the better it was to our advantage. It was worth watching to the end. I hope the kids in Germany were allowed to stay up.”
Tom Bischof joined fellow young star Lennart Karl in missing the game due to a calf injury as Bayern named the same team from the first leg.
Kane started having rested his ankle in the weekend’s 5-0 win at St. Pauli, which took them within four points of the Bundesliga title.
Jude Bellingham was one of four changes to Real’s line-up compared to the first leg and Los Blancos, a distant second in La Liga, looked a different proposition to the tentative team from the Bernabeu leg.
They were helped initially by 40-year-old Neuer, who is considering retiring at the end of the season.
A madcap first-half was a joy to watch for neutrals and Neuer denied Mbappe early in a calmer second period, which saw Jamal Musiala enter the fray on the hour. It was his back-heel that allowed Diaz the space to fire home via a slight deflection from just outside the box.
Olise, again immense, added the cherry on top of the cake and there was even time for Güler to be sent off later in injury time.
Arsenal through
Arsenal will meet Atletico Madrid in the semifinals after a nervous 0-0 home draw with Sporting sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory.
The Gunners have seen their hopes of a quadruple fall apart in recent weeks after losing the League Cup final to Manchester City and then being dumped out of the FA Cup by second-tier Southampton.
They still top the Premier League but visit City on Sunday knowing a defeat will leave the title out of their hands.
Both sides hit the post through Geny Catamo and Leandro Trossard, but it was Kai Havertz’s late goal in last week’s first leg in Lisbon that made the difference.
The 2006 runners-up reached their second straight Champions League semi-final, having lost to PSG last term.
Midfielder Declan Rice told TNT Sports: “I’m delighted. I’m so, so happy. We now want to go one step forward than last season and get to the final.”
Atletico Madrid survived a fierce Barcelona fightback and defending champion Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Liverpool on Tuesday to reach the Champions League semifinals.
Barca headed to Atletico 2-0 down from the quarterfinal first leg, yet early goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres gave them hope of a memorable comeback against their Spanish rivals.
But Ademola Lookman’s finish later in the first half handed the hosts a 3-2 aggregate lead and a red card for Eric Garcia after a professional foul on 79 minutes effectively ended Barcelona’s dream.
“We’re absolutely delighted. Barcelona are such a top-class side. We put in a brilliant performance over there and the team managed to bounce back today,” said Atletico captain Koke, whose side eliminated the Catalans in a Champions League quarterfinal for the third time.
Atleti have never won Europe’s top club prize but the 1974, 2014 and 2016 runners-up are back in the semifinals for the first time since 2017 after edging the five-time champions.
Diego Simeone’s side next face Arsenal or Sporting, who play their second leg Wednesday.
Ousmane Dembele scored twice as PSG won 2-0 in rainy north-west England and 4-0 on aggregate to seal a meeting with Bayern Munich or record winners Real Madrid in late April and early May.
“It’s the little things that make the difference in a match. We managed to stay strong and defended well,” PSG skipper Marquinhos, who made a last-ditch tackle to deny Virgil van Dijk, told Canal+.
PSG won their first Champions League title last term after ditching the idea of collecting world stars and instead building a young team.
The plan has continued to pay dividends this season and a 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes last week set them up perfectly to deal with Tuesday’s Anfield second-leg cauldron, where they also progressed last season in the last 16.
Liverpool’s luck was summed up by Hugo Ekitike going off with a serious-looking injury as Mo Salah came off the bench. Fellow injury-prone big signing Alexander Isak was hooked at the break.
The hosts were awarded a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister in the second half, but it was overturned on video review as replays suggested the Argentina man had only slipped.
World player of the year Dembele scored from the edge of the area soon afterwards and added another on the counter in stoppage time.
Liverpool, fifth domestically, have this term been a shadow of the side that romped to the Premier League crown last season.
“We lost, but we have to build from that and realize how good we can be,” Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté told Prime Video.
Spanish league leaders Barcelona were stunned at the Nou Camp by Atleti in last week’s first leg and went to Madrid with their youngest team in a Champions League knock-out clash.
The average age was 24 years and 347 days and the youngest, 18-year-old Yamal, had a good chance early on before netting after just four minutes to silence an otherwise bouncing Metropolitano.
The home defense was all at sea as Torres played in the Spain star, who had blocked ex-Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet’s backpass.
It was 2-0 some 20 minutes later when Dani Olmo assisted Torres for a superb finish. Fermin Lopez then spurned a top chance for 3-0.
It was costly as Lookman converted Marcos Llorente’s whipped cross to put the hosts ahead again in the tie after a breathless half an hour.
Opportunities came and went at both ends in the second half, with Lookman firing wide and Torres having a goal ruled out for offside.
Hansi Flick’s team kept pushing, with Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford brought on, but they could not find the goal to force extra time after Garcia’s red following a protracted review.
“We’re disappointed. We had plenty of chances. We had the chance to make it 3-0, but in the end we conceded that key goal,” the German boss said. “We weren’t very lucky. That’s just how it went.”
Turkish rising star Zeynep Sönmez delivered the biggest win of her career Wednesday, defeating world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini in straight sets at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, to advance to the second round of the WTA 500 tournament.
Sönmez, 24, overwhelmed the Italian 6-2, 6-2 on the clay courts in Stuttgart, Germany, producing a commanding display that marked the biggest victory of her career and propelled her to a career-high No. 67 in the live WTA rankings.
The result places her alongside Çağla Büyükakçay, who defeated Jelena Ostapenko during the 2018 Fed Cup, as the only Turkish woman to have beaten a Top 10 player.
From the outset, Sönmez dictated play with authority, dominating not only the scoreline but nearly every statistical category. She saved the only break point she faced and held serve throughout the match, while breaking Paolini four times to dismantle her opponent’s rhythm.
Her efficiency on serve proved particularly decisive. Sönmez won 73.3% of points behind her second serve and posted a 64.1% success rate on her first serve, according to Eurosport.
She also capitalized on Paolini’s vulnerabilities, winning 62.5% of return points on the Italian’s second serve. Overall, she claimed 64 of 110 points played, finishing with a 58.2% total point-winning rate.
The performance underscored her growing confidence on clay, a surface that demands tactical discipline and patience – qualities Sönmez displayed throughout the match.
“First of all, it was a pleasure sharing the court with Jasmine; she’s a fantastic player and I really enjoy playing against her,” Sönmez said after the match. “This win is the biggest of my career, so I’m very happy. I felt great on the court; our training sessions went very well.”
She credited her preparation and adaptability for the result, adding: “I was trying to get used to the clay court, and having played two qualifying matches here helped me a lot in adapting to the courts. We had a clear plan, and I executed it perfectly. I’m very happy to have won.”
Sönmez’s run in Stuttgart began in the qualifying rounds, where she advanced without dropping a set, building momentum that carried into her main-draw breakthrough. Her ability to transition from qualifying to defeating a Top 10 seed highlights her rapid development on the WTA Tour.
Beyond the milestone victory, Sönmez acknowledged the growing recognition she has begun to experience off the court as her profile rises.
“I haven’t been able to go home much lately because I’ve been traveling a lot, but sometimes people recognize me in the supermarket when I return,” she said. “It’s crazy for me because I’m not used to it, but it’s a great feeling when people ask for photos or autographs.”
For Paolini, the defeat marked a disappointing early exit. The Italian struggled to counter Sönmez’s aggressive baseline play and was unable to generate sustained pressure, particularly on return games.
Sönmez now advances to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, the world No. 25 and a former U.S. Open finalist, in the second round. The match is scheduled for Thursday, April 16, with a tentative start time of 1:30 p.m. local time, depending on the progression of earlier matches.
The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is one of the premier clay-court events on the WTA calendar and serves as a key lead-up to Roland Garros. A deep run in Stuttgart would further boost Sönmez’s ranking and strengthen her position heading into the European clay season.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said star forward Neymar still has enough time to recover from recent injuries and regain the form needed to play at this summer’s World Cup.
“He is capable of getting back to 100%,” Ancelotti told L’Equipe in response to questions about Neymar. “He is being assessed by the CBF (Brazil’s Football Confederation) and by me, and he still has two months to show that he has what it takes to play in the next World Cup.”
A fixture on the Brazilian national team starting in 2013, Neymar hasn’t played for his country since 2023, when he began dealing with left knee issues.
He had minor surgery on the knee on Dec. 22 and over the international break in early April, he reportedly underwent platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment to further aid in his recovery.
“After his knee injury (in December), Neymar has made a good recovery,” Ancelotti said. “He’s scoring goals. He needs to keep going down this path and improve his fitness. He’s on the right track.”
The 34-year-old, who has scored more goals for Brazil than anyone else (79), has openly discussed his desire to be on Brazil’s World Cup team this summer for the tournament in North America.
He is currently the captain of Santos in Serie A, Brazil’s top soccer league, where his contract expires at the end of the calendar year. He was formerly one of the world’s best attacking players during his time with Barcelona (2013-17) and Paris Saint-Germain (2017-23), playing alongside Lionel Messi with both clubs.
An ankle injury slowed Neymar before his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, leading to a stint with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where his brief tenure was halted by a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He returned to action in January 2025 when he made the move to Santos.
In five games for Santos this season, Neymar has three goals and two assists. He had missed the previous two games for Santos but played all 90 minutes in Saturday’s 1-0 league win over Atletico Mineiro.
“Neymar is improving with every game,” Santos coach Cuca said after Saturday’s match, per ESPN. “He’s been staying behind to train. His movement on the ball is much better and he’s likely to get even better. It’s risky to play him for the full 90 minutes; we’ll see if he can handle it, and we’ll work toward him playing on Tuesday.”
Last season, his first year playing professionally in his home nation, he tallied eight goals and one assist in 20 games (17 starts).
“Neymar has made, and continues to make, history in Brazilian football,” Ancelotti said. “He is a great talent and it’s only natural that people think he can help us win the next World Cup.”
However, Neymar has not been included on any of Ancelotti’s squads since the Italian took over the team last June.
“I’ve said this several times, and it’s very clear: I’ll call up the players who are physically ready,” Ancelotti said.
European heavyweights Bayern Munich welcome Real Madrid, while a stuttering Arsenal side will go up against Sporting in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg ties Wednesday.
In Munich, all eyes will be on Neuer, who delivered a standout performance in Bayern’s 2-1 first-leg victory in Madrid and could be approaching the final chapter of his decorated career.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper, named man of the match after making nine saves, played a decisive role in keeping Real’s attacking threats, including Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, largely in check.
Though no longer the adventurous “sweeper keeper” of his prime, Neuer remains a central figure for Bayern both on and off the pitch. His contract expires at the end of the season, and while the club is open to extending it, he has yet to confirm his plans. Injuries have limited his availability this campaign, with persistent calf issues causing him to miss 11 matches.
Neuer has already ruled himself out of international duty this summer, raising the possibility that this season could mark his final run at club level. Ending it with a third Champions League title and another Bundesliga crown would provide a fitting conclusion to a career that has helped define Bayern’s modern dominance.
Since joining in 2011, alongside players such as Thomas Mueller, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Neuer has been instrumental in elevating Bayern’s status. The club has missed out on the Bundesliga title only twice in the past 15 seasons, while winning two Champions League trophies with him in goal.
His influence extends beyond shot-stopping. “Manu only has to say one sentence and he brings order to the team. That’s why his role to me as a leader is just as important as what he does on the pitch,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said.
Despite carrying a first-leg advantage, Bayern remain wary of Real Madrid’s pedigree in the competition. The Spanish side, 15-time Champions League winners, have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to rise to the occasion regardless of domestic form.
“It doesn’t matter at all what form Kylian Mbappe and his teammates are in. When it’s the Champions League, they perform,” Joshua Kimmich said.
Leon Goretzka echoed that caution, adding: “We know exactly who we are playing against. It’s a brutally difficult task.”
Neuer, meanwhile, will be particularly motivated after a costly error in a previous meeting between the sides led to Bayern’s elimination, a memory that still lingers ahead of Wednesday’s clash.
In London, Arsenal face a different kind of pressure as they attempt to protect a 1-0 lead against Sporting Lisbon while navigating a concerning dip in form.
Arteta’s side has lost three of its last four matches, including defeats that ended their League Cup and FA Cup campaigns.
A shock 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth has also jeopardized Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, leaving them just six points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand ahead of a crucial meeting this weekend.
With a demanding schedule that has seen Arsenal play 54 matches so far this season, fatigue has become a talking point. However, Arteta dismissed it as an excuse.
“I don’t want to pull on those excuses because we’ve been playing so many games, every three days, and we’re going to have to continue to do that,” he said.
“That’s the context and that’s the scenario, and we have to embrace it and especially enjoy the opportunity.”
Arteta also pointed to a lack of intensity and resilience in recent performances, calling on his players to show greater fight in difficult moments.
Injuries have compounded Arsenal’s problems, with key players such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber sidelined. The manager now faces a dilemma over whether to field his strongest lineup against Sporting or rotate ahead of the decisive league clash with City.
One positive has been the form of striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has scored 18 goals this season, though he was subdued in the first leg against his former club.
“We have a lot of important games ahead, and we need to embrace it and to enjoy playing those games,” Gyokeres said.
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