Neymar extends Santos deal to 2026

Neymar has extended his contract with Santos through the end of 2026 as he seeks to regain full fitness and force his way back into Brazil’s World Cup plans. The 33‑year‑old forward returned to his boyhood club in January 2025 and played a pivotal role in securing Santos’ place in the top flight, scoring five goals in their final five matches of the season. Santos said the extension reflects mutual confidence: the club gains continuity and star appeal, while Neymar gains a stable environment to rebuild form after an injury‑marred period.

Neymar underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last month following a string of fitness setbacks that have curtailed his appearances since 2023. Despite a long history of injuries, he remains Brazil’s all‑time leading scorer with 79 goals, and has publicly expressed hope of earning a recall to the Seleção for the upcoming World Cup. National team management have been clear that any return will depend on his physical readiness and match performance rather than reputation; the coach has emphasized that Neymar must demonstrate full fitness to be considered.

The contract keeps Neymar at Santos through the World Cup cycle, providing him with sustained playing time under familiar medical and conditioning staff as he rebuilds match sharpness. Club officials pointed to his leadership value and the positive impact on squad morale and commercial interest, while coaching staff have tempered expectations given his recent injury history. Analysts say the deal gives Neymar a defined runway—roughly a season and a half—to show he can remain durable and productive at club level, which would strengthen his case for national selection.

Brazil have been drawn into a World Cup group alongside Scotland, Morocco and Haiti in the tournament staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States; selectors will monitor Neymar’s recovery and form closely in the months leading up to squad decisions. For Santos, keeping the forward through 2026 helps stabilize the team’s sporting project and marketing profile, but it also places pressure on both player and club to manage his workload and protect his fitness.

If Neymar returns to consistent high‑level performances without relapse, he could yet reclaim a central role in Brazil’s World Cup ambitions, completing a narrative arc from prodigy at Santos to global star and back to his origins. Failure to stay fit or produce sustained impact, however, would likely rule him out of international selection and leave Santos with the challenge of calibrating expectations around an aging, injury‑prone marquee player. The extension thus represents both an an opportunity and a test: a final extended run at elite football where medical management, playing time, and on‑field form will determine whether Neymar’s comeback culminates in another World Cup appearance or a subdued denouement to a storied career.