Neymar has signed a contract extension with Santos until the end of 2026, as the Brazilian forward targets a return to the national team ahead of the World Cup.
Neymar has committed his future to Santos by signing a contract extension that will keep him at the Brazilian club until the end of 2026. The announcement was confirmed on Tuesday, with the 33-year-old continuing his push for a return to the Brazil national team despite ongoing injury challenges.
The forward rejoined his boyhood club in January 2025 and quickly became a central figure in their fight for survival in the Brazilian top flight. Neymar played a decisive role during the closing stages of the season, scoring five goals in the club’s final five matches to help Santos retain their league status.
Speaking in a video released on Santos’ official social media channels, Neymar expressed his emotional connection to the club. “Santos is my place, I’m at home,” he said, adding that he still dreams of achieving more success with the fans who watched him rise as a teenager.
While his influence on the pitch remains clear, Neymar’s career in recent years has been repeatedly disrupted by injuries. Last month, he underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his knee, a procedure that is expected to aid his recovery and help him regain full fitness.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has not represented Brazil since 2023, despite being the country’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals. His absence from the national setup has been a source of frustration as he continues to battle physical setbacks.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has previously made it clear that Neymar’s return to the Seleção will depend entirely on his fitness. Speaking in October, Ancelotti stressed that the forward must be fully healthy and playing regularly to be considered for selection.
Brazil are set to compete in Group C at the World Cup, where they will face Scotland, Morocco and Haiti in the tournament scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across Canada, Mexico and the United States. With his Santos future now secured, Neymar will be hoping the next chapter brings both sustained fitness and a long-awaited return to the world’s biggest stage.
