In a scene reminiscent of Maradona, Neymar was sent off during Santos’s game against Botafogo after attempting to score with his hand, in a moment that might mark the end of his second stint with the Brazilian club.

With the score at 0-0 and less than 15 minutes remaining, the 33-year-old Santos star tried to capitalize on a rebound in the penalty area and sent the ball into the net using his hand. His move drew a strong reaction from Botafogo players, and the referee, without hesitation, showed him a second yellow card, dismissing him from the match.

His punishment proved costly for his team, as just a few minutes later, in the 86th minute, Botafogo scored the only goal of the game, securing a 1-0 victory.

After the match, Neymar apologized to his teammates and fans on social media:
“I made a mistake, forgive me! If I hadn’t been sent off, I’m sure we would have taken the three points. Count me out against them!”

Neymar returned to Santos in January after a brief stint with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. His contract with the Brazilian club expires on June 30, and due to his red card, he will miss the next game against Fortaleza. This means that unless he renews his contract immediately, the controversial match against Botafogo might be his last with Santos.

Meanwhile, his team is in a tough spot, sitting 18th in the standings with just 4 wins in 11 matches.