Neymar says retirement after Santos contract ends Dec 2026

Brazilian football star Neymar has publicly acknowledged that retirement is a possibility when his contract with Santos expires in December 2026. The 34-year-old, who recently ended his international career, stated he has made no decision about his future in club football, leaving all options open.

Speaking at a charity event for the Neymar Jr. Institute in Sao Paulo and in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Monday, August 3, 2026, the forward emphasized his immediate focus is on honoring his current commitment. "I have a contract with Santos until December. I intend to see it through, to honour the Santos shirt as best I can, and then I'll think about it when my contract ends-whether I stay at Santos, move on, stop playing or carry on," Neymar said. He added, "I really don't know what I'm going to do. There's still a long way to go until December, so let's take it one step at a time."

This uncertainty follows Neymar's official retirement from the Brazilian national team after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He returned to the Seleção for the tournament after nearly three years away but was limited by muscular problems to just two appearances, totaling 37 minutes. He scored a...