Published: 08:50, February 25, 2025 | Updated: 09:38, February 25, 2025
Neymar responds to jeering fans by scoring directly from corner
By Reuters
This screengrab taken from a video on the official Youtube channel of the Paulista Championship shows Neymar of Santos taking a corner kick during a Paulista Championship match between Santos and International Limeira on Feb 23, 2025.

Jeering International Limeira fans provoked Neymar to score the first "olimpico" of his career, the Brazil international said on Sunday after guiding Santos to a 3-0 win in the Paulista Championship.

Neymar netted directly from a corner in the 27th minute, bending in a right-footed shot which struck the far post and ended up in the goal.

The 33-year-old also provided two assists for Tiquinho Soares score a first-half double.

"They teased me and I said, now I'm the one who's going to score the goal," Neymar told TNT Sports.

In this file photo dated Feb 12, 2025, Santos' forward #10 Neymar (left) and Corinthians' midfielder #14 Raniele fight for the ball during the Campeonato Paulista A1 football match between Corinthians and Santos at Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo. (PHOTO / AFP)

The home fans also taunted Neymar in the ninth minute when he walked up to take a corner, and the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain forward responded by signalling for them to sing louder before setting up Soares to score.

"My greatest joy is playing football," Neymar posted on social media.

READ MORE: Neymar declares love for Santos, calls for patience after return

Neymar, who left Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal last month to return to his boyhood club, said last week that Santos were helping him "to rediscover soccer, rediscover joy".

Santos play Bragantino in the Paulista Championship quarter-finals next weekend.