SAO PAULO — Brazilian football star Neymar has decided to extend his current contract with Santos, keeping him at the club until the end of December. The 33-year-old striker, who returned to his childhood team earlier this year in January, has had a season plagued by injuries. His existing contract was due to expire in the upcoming week, but both Neymar and Santos confirmed the contract extension on Tuesday.
Neymar shared the news through a video posted on his social media accounts, saying, “I extended my contract with Santos. I went, I came back, and I stay where it all began and where it will never end.” However, neither he nor the club commented on why the extension wasn’t prolonged to mid-2026, a point of interest for many, as there are still hopes for his participation in the World Cup. In June, the new Brazil national team coach, Carlo Ancelotti, hinted at considering Neymar’s return to play in the tournament across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Since his return from Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Neymar has played 12 games for Santos, with a tally of three goals and three assists. Despite his efforts, he was subjected to lengthy breaks due to recurring muscle injuries, affecting his performance consistency. During his initial tenure with Santos, Neymar took part in 225 matches and netted 138 goals, significantly contributing to the club’s six major titles. After being relegated in 2023, Santos climbed back to the top-flight league last year.
Neymar’s latest match with Santos ended on a disappointing note. During Santos’ 1-0 defeat to Botafogo on June 1, he received a red card in the 76th minute following an attempted goal that involved handling the ball. Already on a yellow card, Neymar’s handball attempt resulted in the referee issuing a second yellow card and disallowing the goal. Botafogo capitalized later, netting the winning goal in the 86th minute.
Previously, Neymar and Saudi club Al-Hilal mutually agreed to terminate his contract six months ahead of schedule. During his short stint with Al-Hilal, Neymar managed to play only seven matches due to an ACL injury that sidelined him for a year until October. The club disclosed that Neymar could no longer perform at his past levels, which led to the decision. Neymar’s move away from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain had also stirred criticism, despite contributing significantly with trophies and goals at both clubs.
Currently, Santos finds itself in the 15th spot in the Brazilian league standings, having accumulated 11 points over the course of 12 matches.