Neymar Hints At Retirement As Season Nears End

Brazil forward Neymar has suggested he is “living year to year” and is contemplating retirement at the close of the current season.

The 34-year-old, who rejoined his boyhood club Santos from Saudi side Al Hilal last year, hopes to represent his country in this summer’s World Cup. Despite recent injury woes, including a knee problem, he remains under contract until the end of 2026.

“I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year,” he told Brazilian channel Caze. “It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now. We will see what my heart decides. It depends on what my heart says later in the year.”

Neymar emphasised the importance of the current year: “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. I wanted to play this season totally 100 percent.”

His latest return to action, following minor knee surgery in December, saw him come off the bench in Santos’ 6-0 victory against Velo Clubeto on Sunday, securing their place in the Campeonato Paulista quarter-finals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 caps, has featured in three World Cups.