Brazilian forward Neymar has signed a contract extension with Santos that will keep him at the club until the end of 2026, as he aims to revive his international career and secure a place at the World Cup.
The 33-year-old rejoined his boyhood club in January 2025 but has not featured for Brazil since 2023 due to persistent injury problems.
Despite fitness issues, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star played through pain last season to help Santos avoid relegation from Brazil’s top division, scoring five goals in their final five matches.
After the campaign, Neymar underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus, a move intended to improve his chances of returning to the national team under Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“Santos is my place, I’m at home,” Neymar said in a video shared on the club’s social media platforms.
He added: “It’s with you that I want to achieve the dreams that are still missing.”
Ancelotti had stated in October that Neymar — Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals — would only be considered for recall if he was fully fit.
The forward spent a year on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in October 2023. Although he was expected to return to international duty last year following a 17-month absence, a muscle injury forced him out of the squad.
Brazil will compete in Group C at the World Cup, where they are set to face Scotland, Morocco and Haiti when the tournament kicks off on June 11 across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
