Brazil forward Neymar was lost for words after playing for Santos again - 12 years after first leaving the club.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain superstar took the field in the second half for his boyhood club Santos in its Campeonato Paulista match against Botafogo SP on Wednesday at the Estádio Vila Belmiro.

Neymar said he was left speechless after making his first appearance for Santos since returning to the Brazilian club where he began his illustrious career.

Neymar has confimed he will return to his boyhood club, Santos, as he looks to recover from an ACL injury that has heavily disrupted his career in recent seasons.

Neymar took powerful shots from the edge of the box and ran above his own expectations in 52 minutes on the pitch for Santos on Wednesday in his first game for the Brazilian club since his return last week.

Neymar took powerful shots from the edge of the box and ran above his own expectations in 52 minutes on the pitch for Santos on Wednesday in his first game for the Brazilian club since his return last week.

Neymar made his long awaited return to his boyhood club Santos and received massive ovation from the crowd on his 33rd birthday.

But there’s a giant “and yet” hanging over Neymar’s career. Somehow, despite all those achievements, he hasn’t quite achieved all he could – or should – have. The Ballon d’Or and the World Cup remain conspicuously absent from his trophy cabinet.