Neymar extends stay with Santos in bid to claim World Cup spot for Brazil – ‘Special and challenging year for me’
By Will Conroy
Updated 08/01/2026 at 17:01 GMT
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Brazil forward Neymar has agreed to extend his contract with Santos as he looks to find the form and fitness to land himself a spot in Carlo Ancelotti's squad for this summer's World Cup. The 33-year-old returned to his boyhood club last January and was pivotal in them avoiding relegation last season. But he has not featured for his national team in over two years, having been plagued by injuries.
Neymar scores direct from a corner with outrageous Santos goal
Video credit: TNT Sports
Neymar has agreed to a contract extension with Santos until the end of 2026 as he looks to land a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
The forward returned to his boyhood team last January and was instrumental in their survival in Brazil’s top flight, scoring five times in their final five games as they stayed up by just four points.
But the 33-year-old, who is Brazil’s record men's goalscorer, has not featured for his national team in over two years, having struggled with injuries in recent seasons.
However, Neymar, who remains the most expensive footballer in history following his £200 million move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, will hope that he can find enough form and fitness with Santos before the summer to earn a call-up from Carlo Ancelotti.
He was out of contract with Santos last month and, in a video posted on the club's social media, said: "2025 was a special and challenging year for me.
"Moments of joy and overcoming obstacles, which I was only able to face thanks to your love. An intense love, which I also feel and try to demonstrate in every game, wearing the Sacred Mantle.
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Neymar magic! Santos star's outrageous rainbow flick against Corinthians
Video credit: TNT Sports
"2026 has arrived, and destiny couldn't be different. Santos is my place. Here I am at home, safe and happy. It is with you that I want to achieve the remaining dreams."
Neymar was playing through pain at the end of last season as he helped Santos avoid relegation, and at the end of the campaign, he underwent surgery on his left knee to repair a damaged meniscus.
It is the latest in a string of injuries for the former Barcelona attacker, who was sidelined for a year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in October 2023.
He was then set to make his return to the Brazil side last year after 17 months away, but a muscle injury forced him to withdraw from the squad.
Ancelotti said last month that Neymar must be "100%" fit to be considered for Brazil’s squad in the summer.
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The five-time world champions have been drawn alongside Scotland, Morocco and Haiti in Group C for the tournament taking place across Canada, Mexico and the United States, which kicks off on 11 June.
Speaking last month, Santos’ president Marcelo Teixeira said: "Neymar's project is a project for next year's World Cup. The conversation has always been this."
Neymar has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil and has featured at the last three World Cups, scoring eight times across those tournaments.
He overtook Pele as the country’s record men's goalscorer when he scored in a 5-1 over Bolivia in 2023.
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