It seems like Neymar is set to stay with his boyhood club Santos a bit longer. The Brazilian club teased a new contract for the star player, apparently extending his stay beyond his current deal. This new agreement could keep the 33-year-old at Vila Belmiro until December 31, 2026. An official announcement is expected pretty soon, fans are pretty excited about it.
Neymar has been huge for Santos since coming back. He rejoined just a year ago, remember? He helped them avoid relegation from Brazil‘s Serie A, which was a really big deal for the club. This is all despite him dealing with some serious injuries.
The Tease: A New Deal on Social Media
Santos decided to be a bit cheeky about the whole thing. They posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing a jersey at Vila Belmiro Stadium. First, it flashed “June 10,” which is linked to the 2026 World Cup start. Then, an error message popped up. After that, the date changed to “December 31, 2026.” The caption just said, “the time is almost here.” It’s a pretty clear hint, you know?
His previous contract was set to run out on December 31, 2025. But Santos confirmed he would stay at least until the end of that year. Now, this new tease points to an even longer commitment. We don’t have all the details on the contract yet, no official stuff has come out. But it’s pretty exciting for Santos fans, that’s for sure. ESPN Africa reported on the social media buzz around it all.
Injury Battles and World Cup Dreams
Neymar’s road back to top form hasn’t been easy. He’s been really struggling with injuries lately. He just had minor left knee surgery. This comes after he tore his ACL way back in October 2023. That injury happened during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. He hasn’t played for Brazil since then. It’s been a tough stretch for him, you can imagine.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has been pretty clear about his expectations. He said that only players who are “100% fit” will make the squad for the 2026 World Cup. Neymar really wants to be there. He’s Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, so he’s a huge part of their history. Ancelotti apparently even said, “He has to be 100%.” ESPN Philippines covered Ancelotti’s tough stance. He’s had bad luck with injuries, Ancelotti admitted. It’s a real challenge for Neymar, trying to get back to full fitness for that huge tournament.
Neymar had an ACL and meniscus operation two years ago already. This latest knee issue is a meniscus problem. He said after a game, “I’m feeling better and better.” But he also admitted, “This injury is sad, it’s annoying.” He still played through it for Santos though, which shows his commitment. He said, “Now it’s time to think about Santos.” And then he’ll worry about the national team.
Neymar’s Impact at Santos
His return to Santos in January was pretty big. It was a move back to his boyhood club after spells with Al Hilal, PSG, and Barcelona. He was looking for consistent playing time. He also wanted to regain form for the national team, which makes sense. ESPN Soccer reported on his initial return from Al Hilal.
And he really delivered for Santos, even with his limited play. He made 28 appearances, scoring 11 goals and getting 4 assists. Eight of those goals were in the league. Those goals were super important. They helped Santos avoid relegation from Brazil’s Serie A. This was a huge deal, especially after the club suffered its first-ever relegation in 2023. That happened almost a year after the legendary Pelé passed away. ESPN detailed how Neymar helped them survive. He scored a goal against Sport Recife, a hat trick against Juventude. Then he was a great playmaker against Cruzeiro in the final game. Santos won 3-0, finishing 12th in the league. He played only 19 of the 38 league rounds, but his impact was clear. He really came through for them.
What’s Next for the Brazilian Star
So, it seems like Neymar is pretty committed to Santos for now. He’s going to rest up and then get that knee surgery. His focus will definitely be on recovering fully. He needs to get back to 100% fitness. That’s the only way he’ll make Ancelotti’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. It’s a big goal for him. This new contract, if confirmed, gives him that stability at Santos. It lets him really focus on his recovery and getting back to his best form. It’s a big chapter for Neymar and for Santos too.
Annsly Raena 
Soureesh Datta 
Baishali Karmakar