Neymar has signed a new contract to stay with Santos until the end of 2026. The 33-year-old hopes this will help him earn a place in Brazil’s squad for the next World Cup.
Neymar returned to Santos, the club where he started his career, in January 2025. He has not played for Brazil since 2023 because he has been dealing with several injuries.
Last season, he played despite being in pain to help Santos avoid being relegated. He scored five goals in the team’s final five matches. After the season ended, Neymar had surgery on his left knee to fix a torn meniscus, hoping it would improve his chances of being picked by Brazil’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
In a video shared by Santos, Neymar said the club feels like home and told fans that he wants to achieve his remaining career dreams with them.
Ancelotti has said Neymar will only be selected for Brazil if he is fully fit. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals and has played 128 matches for the national team — second only to Cafu.
Neymar missed about a year of football after suffering a serious knee injury (ACL) in October 2023. He was close to returning to the Brazil team last year but had to pull out because of another muscle injury.
The World Cup will begin on 11 June and will be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
