Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer Neymar Jr has officially agreed to a new Neymar Santos contract extension, committing to Santos FC until December 2025. This marks a full-season return to his boyhood club just ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 33-year-old forward initially rejoined Santos in January on a six-month deal following his departure from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. With this Neymar Santos contract extension, he is set to complete the full Brazilian Serie A campaign, with an option to extend.
Neymar has always been a symbol of Santos FC’s rich history. Since debuting for the club as a teenager, he has netted 141 goals and provided 69 assists in 243 appearances. His return earlier this year reignited excitement among Brazilian football fans, and this Neymar Santos contract extension only fuels Santos’ ambitions for the 2025 season.
Neymar’s Contract Extension: Key Details
- Player Name: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
- Age: 33
- Club: Santos FC
- Contract Extended Until: December 2025
- Total Appearances for Club: 243
- Total Goals Scored: 141
- Total Assists: 69
- International Caps (Brazil): 128
- International Goals: 79
- Last Brazil Appearance: October 2023 vs Uruguay (knee injury)
- Return to Santos: January 2025
- Previous Club: Al-Hilal (Saudi Pro League)
Neymar’s Love for Santos Shines Through
Following the announcement of his contract extension, Neymar Jr shared heartfelt words that reflected his lifelong connection to Santos. “I made a decision and I listened to my heart,” Neymar said. “Santos is not just my team, it’s my home, my roots, my history and my life. Here I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved. Here I can be myself, truly happy.”
He continued, “This is where I want to fulfil the dreams that are missing in my career. And nothing’s going to stop me. I go, I come back and I stay. Where it all began and where it will never end.”
Neymar Jr’s comments illustrate his passion for Santos, the club where he began his professional journey and rose to international stardom. Despite links to top European clubs, Neymar Jr has chosen to focus on giving back to his roots and re-establishing himself on home soil, aiming to inspire young talent and lead Santos back to domestic and continental glory.
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Strategic Move Ahead of World Cup 2026
Neymar Jr’s return to Santos is also a significant step toward regaining full fitness and rhythm ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After a 17-month absence from international duty, he was recalled to the Brazil squad in March 2025. However, he did not feature in the qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.
His last appearance for Brazil came in October 2023, when he suffered a knee injury in a match against Uruguay. Despite this setback, Neymar remains Brazil’s top scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances — a record that underscores his enduring quality.
Santos president Marcelo Teixeira hailed Neymar Jr’s commitment as a turning point for the club: “It is a historic and remarkable day for Brazilian football, a gift for the fans of Santos FC. Our idol, our boy, the prince with our number 10 shirt remains. It is a very important moment in this reconstruction process and we needed Neymar, both on and off the field. The phrase ‘I’m going, I’m back, I’m staying’ is emblematic and fundamental for the repositioning of Santos FC at its proper level.”
With the World Cup on the horizon, Neymar Jr’s form for Santos will be closely watched by Brazilian fans and national team selectors alike. The forward’s decision to stay in Brazil may help him return to top form and lead the Selecão once again on the global stage.
