Neymar admits retirement is an option when Santos contract expires in December
Neymar admits retirement is an option when Santos contract expires in December
Neymar's international career is officially over, and the Brazilian superstar has now revealed that his playing days at club level could also be drawing to a close, admitting he may hang up his boots for good when his contract with Santos expires in December.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star returned to his first club in January 2025, following an injury-hit stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal. Since returning to Brazil, he has scored 14 goals in 29 league matches — the most of any Santos player in that span and the joint-eighth most among everyone in Serie A.
That resurgence earned him a recall to the Brazil squad under manager Carlo Ancelotti. Although he became only the second Selecao player to score at four different World Cups — after Pele — he was unable to prevent Brazil's round-of-16 exit at the hands of Norway. Ancelotti was criticised for bringing Neymar on while that last-16 tie was poised at 0-0, and he confirmed after the tournament that the forward's international career was over.
Now, Neymar faces an uncertain future beyond the end of this year, admitting he is considering every option — including walking away from the game entirely.
"I'm not thinking about stopping, nor do I know how long I'll carry on," Neymar said in a video posted to his YouTube channel on Monday. "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. 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."
Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer, netting 80 goals in 130 senior caps, having surpassed Pele — who previously held the record with 78 — almost three years ago.
Throughout a glittering career, he has won 28 trophies, including two LaLiga titles and one Champions League with Barcelona, and five Ligue 1 crowns with PSG. His €222m (£200m) transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 remains the most expensive in the history of world football, though he was often criticised during his time in France for failing to get the club across the line in the Champions League.
The winger provided 164 goal involvements in 186 games for Barcelona (105 goals, 59 assists) and 173 goal contributions in 173 outings for PSG (118 goals, 70 assists) — statistics that underline his status as one of the most prolific forwards of his generation as he contemplates what could be his final months in the sport.