Forward Gabriel Barbosa 'Gabigol' stated this Monday, during the presentation of his return as a Santos player, that he is determined to help Neymar return to the Brazilian national team and thus be able to play in the 2026 World Cup 2026.

“Neymar is my idol and a friend; I played with him on the national team and we were always very happy on and off the field. We want to help Neymar because we need him at the World Cup,” the striker, on loan from Cruzeiro until the end of the year, said at a press conference.

Reunion at Santos: the return home of two idols

Neymar and Gabigol will reunite this season at Santos, the club where they both developed and took their first steps as professionals. However, their time together on the first team was minimal. When Gabigol joined the first team, Neymar was already in the process of leaving to begin his successful spell at FC Barcelona, ??which limited their time together at the Sao Paulo club. A partnership forged in the Brazilian national team. Where they did share more experiences was with the Brazilian national team, with whom they achieved one of the country's greatest football milestones: the gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. “We are here to help Neymar. We are very happy to share a locker room and to be together again,” the striker insisted, making it clear that they are both in a good place personally and professionally. Gabigol spoke with Neymar during the negotiations. The striker revealed that he had conversations with Neymar during the negotiations between Santos and Cruzeiro. The former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Al-Hilal player has just renewed his contract with 'Peixe' until the end of 2026, strengthening the club's sporting project. However, Gabigol was emphatic in pointing out that the team's success does not depend solely on two figures. Santos is looking for a strong team, not just two stars. The striker stressed that Santos "is not just Neymar and Gabigol,"but rather a group of “more than 11 players” who must work together to build a competitive team, capable of fighting for titles in Brazilian football.

Gabigol promises commitment and rules out a setback in his career

The former Flamengo striker, with whom he won two Copa Libertadores titles (2019 and 2022), confessed to being “very anxious” about his upcoming return to Santos and assured everyone that he is in excellent physical condition.

“I’m arriving in great shape, I’ve rested a lot during the holidays and I’ve also been training. I’m still 29 years old, I think I’m young and I’ve never had a serious injury,” he emphasized.

He also promised commitment and dedication to the 'Peixe' fans and was emphatic in rejecting the idea that this return represents a step backward, despite the club’s financial problems, as in 2025 they were close to being relegated to Serie B of the Brazilian Championship.

“If returning to the best team on Earth is a step backward, there’s no better step backward than that,” he declared confidently. Gabigol’s return to Santos, alongside Neymar, excites the fans and is poised to become one of the most followed stories in Brazilian football leading up to the 2026 World Cup.