Neymar He is considering the future of his career. Under contract with Santos until December 31, 2026, the 34-year-old Brazilian striker is now considering all possibilities: extending his contract with his boyhood club, joining another team, or definitively ending his professional career.
Stay in Santos, leave, or stop everything
When questioned on Monday evening during a charity auction organized in São Paulo, Neymar made no commitment regarding his future. "When my contract ends, I'll think about whether to stay at Santos, leave, or stop playing. I really don't know what I'm going to do.""I'm not in a rush to make a decision," said the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player. The Brazilian insists, however, that he doesn't feel any urgency to make a decision. He intends to finish the season with Santos before considering the various options available to him. "We're taking it step by step, match by match. I feel good physically.", he added.
A career hampered by injuries
The question of his future has been a recurring theme for several seasons. Neymar has faced numerous injuries, including a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee in October 2023. This serious injury sidelined him for approximately a year. His time at Al-Hilal, between 2023 and January 2025, was severely hampered by his physical problems. Released from his contract with the Saudi club, he chose to return to Santos, his boyhood club, with the ambition of regaining playing time and preparing for the 2026 World Cup. Despite further periods of unavailability, Neymar now claims to feel fit enough to play regularly. However, he does not guarantee that he will continue beyond the expiration of his contract.
His story with Brazil is over.
This uncertainty concerns only his club career. Neymar has already announced the end of his time with the Brazilian national team after the Seleção's elimination in the Round of 8 of the 2026 World Cup. Brazil was defeated 2-1 by Norway. Coming on as a substitute, Neymar scored the last goal of his international career from the penalty spot, but was unable to prevent his team's elimination. He left the pitch in tears before confirming a few weeks later that he would no longer wear the Brazilian jersey. At 34, the striker has therefore definitively closed the chapter on the Seleção. His thoughts now turn to whether or not to continue his professional career.
His father assures that he will continue
Neymar da Silva Santos, the player's father and agent, doesn't seem to believe in a retirement at the end of the year. When questioned at the same charity event, he responded humorously. "Neymar loves playing football. What else is he going to do? He doesn't have a medical degree yet, so he's going to keep playing."he said. The Brazilian's father had already publicly asked his son to continue his career after the World Cup. Neymar, for his part, is not ruling anything out and is currently refusing to confirm his representative's statements.
Santos will wait until the end of the season
Neymar remains fully committed to Santos until the end of his contract. The Brazilian club is scheduled to play in the Copa Sudamericana round of 8 against Ecuador's Macará. The player recently faced criticism after participating in a poker tournament while some of his teammates were playing a Copa Sudamericana match in Venezuela. Despite this controversy, he insists he wants to take it one game at a time and not make any hasty decisions. His future is therefore expected to remain uncertain for several more months. On December 31st, Neymar will have to choose between extending his contract with Santos, signing one last deal with another club, or ending a professional career that began in 2009.
