Neymar has renewed his contract with Santos for another year, keeping him with the Brazilian club until the end of 2026 and putting an end to the intense speculation surrounding the 33-year-old’s future.
Neymar joined Santos last February after a disappointing stint with Al-Hilal, hoping to rediscover his form in the Brazilian league and return to Europe.
However, Neymar has suffered from a series of injuries, which have even prevented him from joining the Brazilian national team since Carlo Ancelotti took over, putting his participation in the 2026 World Cup in doubt.
Neymar’s contract with Santos was set to expire at the end of 2025, and he had been linked with several European clubs. Ultimately, however, the player opted to remain in Brazil, announcing his decision himself on Wednesday morning.
Neymar wrote, “It’s 2026, and fate had no other plans. Santos is where I am. Here, I feel at home, safe, and happy, and with you, I want to achieve the rest of my dreams.”
The former Barcelona star successfully led Santos to avoid relegation to the second division, even playing in the final matches despite suffering from pain, before undergoing knee surgery.
In total, Neymar played 34 matches for Santos over the past year, scoring 11 goals, but that wasn’t enough for Ancelotti to call him up to the Brazilian national team. The Italian coach indicated that the “star of the current generation” needs consistency and continuity to be included in the squad for the next World Cup.
