Santos FC forward Neymar has extended his contract with the club until the end of 2026, a move aimed squarely at reviving his chances of earning a recall to the Brazil national team ahead of the next World Cup.
Neymar, 33, returned to his boyhood side in January 2025 after an injury-hit spell away from the club and has not featured for Brazil since 2023. Persistent fitness problems had kept him on the sidelines at the international level, but his commitment to Santos signals a renewed push to get back into contention.
Despite battling physical issues, Neymar played through pain last season to help Santos avoid relegation from Brazil’s top flight. He scored five goals in the final five matches of the campaign, a run that proved decisive in keeping the club afloat.
Following the season, the former FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a damaged meniscus. The operation was seen as a necessary step as he works towards full fitness and hopes to force his way back into the plans of Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“Santos is my place, I’m at home,” Neymar said in a video shared on the club’s social media channels.
He added: “It’s with you that I want to achieve the dreams that are still missing.”
Ancelotti has previously made it clear that Neymar must be fully fit to earn a recall. Speaking in October, the coach stressed that reputation alone would not be enough, even for Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, who has 79 international goals to his name.
Neymar’s recent career has been disrupted by serious injuries. He spent 12 months out of action after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in October 2023 and later suffered another setback when a muscle injury forced him to withdraw from the national squad after a planned return.
Brazil, five-time world champions, will compete in Group C at the World Cup, where they are set to face Scotland, Morocco and Haiti. The tournament gets underway on 11 June and will be staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
