Overview
- Neymar ended negotiations with FC Cincinnati on Thursday after becoming frustrated that the club never presented a formal contract offer.
- Cincinnati sporting director Chris Albright and president Jeff Berding met Neymar and his father in Brazil in April, but months of contact failed to produce written terms.
- The striker returned to action for Brazil at the World Cup after a mid-May calf injury and remains focused on the tournament while still under contract with Santos through the end of 2026.
- Neymar has not ruled out joining Major League Soccer in the future, but the stalled talks make an immediate post-World Cup move to Cincinnati unlikely.
- The episode spotlights how MLS clubs’ deal-making capacity can limit bids for global stars and could reshape how teams approach urgency, financing, and negotiation when pursuing marquee names.