After weeks of rumors sending him abroad, Neymar finally continues to Santos. The player aims to win the 2026 World Cup with Brazil.
“I stay” : Brazilian star Neymar extended his contract with Santos on Tuesday until the end of the year, the club of his beginnings, where he hopes to re -go a year from the 2026 World Cup. “I made a decision and listened to my heart. Santos is not only my team, it’s my house, my roots, my story and my life ”said the 33 -year -old striker, quoted in a club statement where he returned in late January.
This highly anticipated announcement ends weeks of rumors on its future, while the contract ultimately extended was to reach its deadline on June 30. Santos mentioned “The possibility of a new extension” by the end of the year. “This is where I want to realize the dreams that I have not yet made in my career”added Neymar, considered by his club as the heir to the “king” Pelé, who has carried out his career in Santos.
Always handicapped by injuries
Before his return to the fold, “Ney” was difficult to recover from the serious knee injury which weighed his visit to the Saudi club Al-Hilal, where he only played seven matches in 17 months. But the physical seeds continued in Santos, where he only played four of the eleven games played by his team this season in the Brazilian championship, due to repeated muscle injuries.
In total, he played 12 matches in five months all competitions, registering three goals and delivering three assists in the São Paulo regional championship. During his last appearance in the national championship, he was expelled for taking a second yellow card after marked with the hand against Botafogo, on June 1.
Back in the elite after being relegated at the end of 2023, Santos is currently fifteenth of the Brasileirao, with the same number of points (11) as the internacional Porto Alegre, first relegation. If he still benefits from a certain love rating with supporters for winning the COPA Libertadores with his training club in 2011, before joining FC Barcelona, Neymar was not spared from criticism.
He was notably pinned for his appearances in the Rio carnival and in Kings League (football competition at seven) during his convalescence. Critics of his lifestyle that pursue him since his visit to Paris Saint-Germain (2017-2023), also enamelled with repeated injuries and all kinds of controversies.
6th star objective with Brazil in 2026
Neymar finally chose to stay in Santos, despite rumors, sending it to the Fenerbahçe by José Mourinho. “We have received proposals from other clubs but we refused them because we want him to have more time to recover from his injuries. The next semester will be important “said his father two weeks ago.
Neymar hopes to return to his highest level to lead the Seleçao to the long-awaited sixth world title which has escaped him since 2002. He had been called in the national team for the matches of March (2-1 victory against Colombia and 4-1 defeat against Argentina), but had had to declare due to yet another thigh injury.
At the end of May, the top scorer in the history of the Seleçao (79 achievements, two more than Pelé) was absent from the first list of the new coach Carlo Ancelotti. “I selected players who are in good shape. Neymar just comes back from injury, everyone knows that he is a very important player and we obviously count on him ”had justified the Italian.
The striker nevertheless visited his colleagues from La Seleçao in São Paulo, who obtained the qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a draw in Ecuador (0-0) then a victory against Paraguay (1-0), on June 5 and 10. “He came to the hotel, we praised him and we gave him the hug. He is very close to the national team “had commented Ancelotti, for whom Neymar can play “To any position”.
