Neymar scores twice, mocks critics on Santos return

Neymar marked his return to Santos with a brace, scoring twice and playfully mocking his critics with his goal celebrations. The veteran forward's performance helped Santos salvage a 2-2 home draw against bottom-of-the-table Chapecoense on Saturday, in a match crucial for their fight against relegation. The result leaves Santos precariously perched just one point above the drop zone in Brazil's top flight.

This was Neymar's first appearance for the club in two and a half months, a period during which he has faced persistent criticism regarding his lifestyle. His presence this week drew renewed scrutiny after he participated in a poker tournament while his teammates were engaged in a Copa Sudamericana match in Venezuela. In response to the criticism, Neymar celebrated his opening goal with a card-dealing gesture and later mimicked a golf swing using a corner flag.

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, had previously announced his retirement from international football following Brazil's disappointing exit from the World Cup in the last 16, a match where they were eliminated by Norway.