Football: A sparkling Neymar scores his first direct corner of his career

Neymar did Neymar. The Seleçao 's all-time top scorer scored a magnificent direct corner and made two assists in his team Santos' 3-0 win over Internacional de Limeira on Sunday in the São Paulo state championship.

"I took a great shot and managed to score the first goal from a direct corner of my career," said the 33-year-old Brazilian star with a smile. "Prince Neymar Jr is applauded (once again) by the opposing fans - A HISTORIC GOAL!" Santos wrote on his social networks. However, these same fans had booed him just before the corner, in the 27th minute of the match.

The striker responded by slotting the ball straight into the net to double the score in his team's favour. He also provided two assists to his teammate Tiquinho Soares (9th, 32nd). The goal scored by Neymar is the second since his return to Santos at the beginning of February and the 140th in the jersey of his training club, where he started in 2009 before joining FC Barcelona in 2013.

After four seasons in La Liga, the Brazilian played six years at Paris SG before a stint in the Saudi championship at Al-Hilal, which he left at the end of January to return home.

Last weekend, he scored a penalty and made an assist but still seemed far from his former level. The victory this Sunday against Internacional de Limeira, on the last day of the group stage of the Paulista championship, allows Santos to reach the quarter-finals.