Neymar sends out message of strength to Real Madrid superstar: ‘The dance was for him’

Santos, Brazil — In a powerful show of solidarity, Neymar Jr. turned his latest outing for Santos into a statement of support for fellow Brazilian Vinicius Jr., dedicating both goals and his celebration to the Real Madrid forward who has faced repeated abuse on European soil.

Neymar struck a decisive brace in Santos’ 2-1 home victory over Vasco da Gama on Thursday night, but the night’s loudest message came after his first goal. The 32-year-old sprinted to the corner flag and performed the same dance that Vinicius unveiled against Benfica in the Champions League round-of-16 second leg, the very routine that had drawn criticism and, according to Neymar, racist undertones.

Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star left no doubt about his intent.

“The dance was for Vinicius Jr.,” Neymar said. “When he scored his first goal there in Portugal and faced insults and racism and all that, I said to him: ‘When you score a goal, celebrate in the same way, because if I score a goal, I’ll do the same thing.’”

The tribute arrives barely 48 hours after Vinicius led Real Madrid past Benfica, scoring in the second leg to seal the Spanish side’s passage into the next round. With Kylian Mbappé unavailable, the 24-year-old assumed leadership of the attack and answered weeks of provocation: Benfica teenager Gianluca Prestianni had earlier mocked Vinicius’ celebration, and the Portuguese club’s management publicly backed their player, intensifying the backlash.

Vinicius responded on the pitch, replicating his dance after finding the net in Lisbon. Neymar’s decision to mirror the celebration in Brazil amplifies the support network among Seleção teammates and underscores a growing willingness to confront discriminatory incidents head-on.

Thursday’s brace marked Neymar’s most influential performance since returning to boyhood club Santos, and his post-match comments ensured the spotlight stayed fixed on a broader fight against racism in football. By turning a personal milestone into a public endorsement, Neyram has reminded the sport that gestures—whether goals or dances—can carry weight far beyond the pitch.

SEO keywords: