SAO PAULO
Neymar Jr. has committed to stay at Santos until the end of 2026, the Brazilian club confirmed on Tuesday, as he aims to keep his World Cup dreams alive despite recent injury setbacks.
The 33-year-old forward returned to his boyhood club Santos in January 2025 and played a key role in their survival in the Brazilian top flight, scoring five times in their last five matches.
Neymar expressed his heartfelt desire to return to Santos and achieve unfinished dreams with the club and its fans.”Santos is my place, I’m at home,” Neymar said in a video published on the Brazilian club’s social media. “It’s with you that I want to achieve the dreams that are still missing,” he added, referring to Santos’ supporters.
The Brazilian forward, who suffered a meniscus and ACL injury in his left knee during international duty in October 2023, underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his knee last month. Santos confirmed on 22 December that the procedure, carried out by Brazil’s national team doctor, had been successful.
Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has not played for the five-time World Cup champions since 2023. In October, manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that, in order to be eligible for a recall, he must be completely fit. Group C of the World Cup, which will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from 11 June to 19 July, will see Brazil face Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti.
