Santos 2012

Santos in 2012 was the squad that, led by Neymar, continued its trajectory from the 2011 Copa Libertadores championship. During the season, the team won the Paulista Championship and the South American Recopa.

History

Santos came into 2012 riding on the 2011 Copa Libertadores title, the club's first in the competition since 1963. In the final, the team defeated Peñarol of Uruguay, and later competed in the Club World Cup in Japan, where it lost the final to Barcelona 4-0. In 2012, the Santos squad maintained the continental champion core and Neymar continued as the primary offensive force. The group won the 2012 Paulista Championship, reaffirming the club's strength in São Paulo. That same year, Santos won the 2012 South American Recopa, disputed against Universidad de Chile, champions of the 2011 South American Cup. The achievement consolidated the winning cycle that began with the Libertadores. The 2012 squad is remembered as one of the last great Santos teams with Neymar. The striker left the club in 2013 to play for Barcelona.