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Brazilian forward Neymar has signed a contract extension with Santos that will keep him at the club until the end of 2026, as he targets a return to international football and a place at the World Cup.
The 33-year-old rejoined his boyhood club in January 2025 but has not played for Brazil since 2023 because of ongoing injury setbacks.
Despite his fitness struggles, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star featured regularly last season, often playing through pain to help Santos avoid relegation from Brazil’s top flight. He scored five goals in the club’s final five matches of the campaign.
After the season ended, Neymar underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus, a decision aimed at boosting his chances of earning a recall under Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Speaking in a video shared on Santos’ social media platforms, Neymar described the club as his home and said he wanted to achieve the dreams he still holds there.
Ancelotti previously stated that Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, would only return to the national team if he regained full fitness.
The forward spent a year out after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in October 2023. Although he was expected to return to international action last year following a 17-month absence, a muscle injury ruled him out.
Brazil will feature in Group C at the World Cup, where they are due to face Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti when the tournament begins on June 11 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
