The Brazilian forward Neymar has signed a new contract with "Santos," which will allow him to remain with the team after the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar's old contract was set to expire less than six months before the start of the World Cup, which fueled rumors about his potential departure. However, the forward has now agreed to a one-year extension, valid until December 2026, even if he becomes part of the Brazilian national team for the tournament.
This decision marks a new step in Neymar's career, who since returning to "Santos" in February 2023 has preferred short-term contracts of six months. The last of these was set to expire at the end of 2025.
Active negotiations for the new agreement were led by club president Marcelo Teixeira and Neymar's father, who is also his agent. The forward made a significant contribution to keeping the team in the top division, scoring five goals and providing one assist in the last four matches of the season.
However, Neymar will miss the start of the 2025 season and some early matches due to recovery from a medial meniscus injury. He is expected to return to play on February 25 in a match against "Vasco da Gama," although his debut could be postponed to March 11 in a game against "Mirassol."
The contract extension confirms that Neymar will remain an important figure at "Santos," focusing on preparation for the World Cup and performances in the Copa Sudamericana.
