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Neymar Commits to Santos Through 2026 in Bid for World Cup Return

The new deal positions the 33-year-old to rebuild fitness after knee surgery under the standard set by Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Overview

  • Santos announced Neymar has extended his contract until December 2026, with the forward declaring in a club video that he is "at home" and focused on unfinished goals.
  • The Brazil star underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in late December to repair a meniscus issue following prior ACL damage sustained in October 2023.
  • Neymar has not appeared for the national team since 2023, and Ancelotti has reiterated he will only be considered if he is fully fit.
  • After returning to Santos in January 2025, Neymar helped secure top-flight survival with five goals in the club’s final five matches of the season.
  • The longer-than-expected extension follows transfer speculation, including links to Flamengo, and provides stability as Brazil prepare for a World Cup group featuring Scotland, Morocco and Haiti starting June 11 in North America.