Neymar Says He May Retire At End of 2026, Eyes World Cup Return

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer Neymar has revealed he could walk away from football when 2026 closes, even as he clings to the dream of one last World Cup appearance this summer. Speaking to Brazilian online channel Caze, the 34-year-old striker admitted that the grind of persistent injuries has forced him into a day-by-day mindset. “It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire,” Neymar said. “I’m living year to year now.”

The forward returned to boyhood club Santos in January 2025 after a spell with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, signing a deal that runs through the end of 2026. Yet a knee operation in late December shelved him until last week, tightening an already narrow window to regain peak condition. Neymar conceded that forcing his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad will be “a significant obstacle”; he has not pulled on the national-team shirt since October 2023.

“This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too,” he stressed. Neymar’s 79 international goals remain a Seleção record, eclipsing Pelé’s long-standing mark by two, and his 2017 transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported $200 million still stands as the highest fee ever paid for a footballer.

With injuries limiting his recent playing time, questions swirl over whether the former Barcelona and PSG star can rediscover the explosiveness that once defined him. Santos will watch his fitness closely, while Brazil’s coaching staff must weigh experience against availability as they finalise plans for the upcoming tournament. For Neymar, the next twelve months represent both a last shot at global glory and a potential farewell to the sport he has graced for more than a decade.