Neymar Extends Santos Contract Amid World Cup Aspirations

Neymar, the Brazilian forward, has extended his contract with Santos until the conclusion of the 2026 season as he aims for a call-up to represent Brazil in the World Cup.

At 33 years old, Neymar returned to his childhood club in January 2025. However, he has not played for the five-time World Cup champions since 2023 due to ongoing injury challenges.

Last season, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star played through significant pain, successfully helping Santos avert relegation from Brazil’s top division by scoring five goals in the final five matches of the season.

To enhance his chances of inclusion in Brazil’s national team, Neymar underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a damaged meniscus.

In a video shared on the club’s social media, Neymar expressed his deep connection with Santos, stating, “Santos is my place, I’m at home.” He further conveyed to fans, “It’s with you that I want to achieve the dreams that are still missing.”

Brazil’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, indicated in October that Neymar, who is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals, must regain full fitness to earn a place in the national squad.

Neymar has faced considerable setbacks, including a 12-month recovery period after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in October 2023. He was poised to return to the national team last year following a 17-month hiatus but had to withdraw due to a muscle injury.

Looking ahead, Brazil is set to compete against Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti in Group C at the World Cup, which kicks off on June 11 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.