Brazilian star Neymar expressed his joy after scoring directly from a corner in Santos' 3-0 win over Internacional de Limeira in the Paulista Championship on Sunday.
Speaking after the match, the 33-year-old forward explained how he reacted to the home crowd's jeers by scoring a spectacular "Olympic goal."
I went to take the corner, they were trying to provoke me," Neymar said. "I asked them to cheer louder, I hit the ball and got an assist. Then, the second time I went there [to the corner], they did it again, so I thought to myself: 'Now it's my turn to score the goal' [laughs].
“Hitting a fantastic shot, I was able to score my first-ever Olympic goal,” he added.
The 27th-minute goal he scored caught the goalkeeper off guard, curving in from the left and hitting the far post before entering the goal. The goal was so impressive that it even earned cheers from the opposing team's fans.
Neymar, who returned to Santos in January on a six-month contract, is aiming to regain his form after being restricted to just seven appearances for Al Hilal over the past 18 months due to injuries.
I'm focusing on each game, preparing myself and feeling more confident on the field," he said. "I'm not going back to being 19 years old—how much I miss that age—but I'm feeling more at ease and composed.
The forward is also seeking a return to the Brazil national team before the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Colombia and Argentina.
I'm fully committed to being called up," Neymar said. "Every player wants to defend their country, and for me, it's always been a great privilege. If I get the chance to return, I'll be extremely happy.
Brazil coach Dorival Junior is expected to announce his team's roster on March 7. Neymar, the country's leading scorer with 79 goals, has been inactive with the national team since an ACL injury in October 2023.
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