Brazil forward Neymar said he could retire by the end of the year despite recently extending his contract with boyhood club Santos FC.
The 34-year-old returned to Santos in January 2025 and played a key role in helping them retain their top-flight status, scoring five goals in their final five matches of the campaign.But Neymar, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, said he is uncertain about his future and is taking his career year by year.
“I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year,” he told Brazilian online channel Caze on Friday. “It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.”
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has not played for the national team since October 2023. He recently underwent knee surgery and faces a race to be fit for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he will only select fully fit players for the tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
