Neymar’s future unclear after Brazil World Cup exit
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Rio de Janeiro: Santos have given Neymar time to consider his future after Brazil’s shock round-of-16 exit from the World Cup, Brazilian media reported on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, has six months remaining on his Santos contract but has hinted at retirement from international football and raised questions about his club career. Santos said decisions on Neymar’s future will follow a vacation period and that the club is “waiting for a signal” from the player and his representatives, Xinhua reported.
Neymar is in the United States with his family and is expected to take at least 10 days off. He announced his international retirement after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Norway at MetLife Stadium — the same venue where he made his Brazil debut in 2010 — saying: “I tried, I tried. Now it’s over. I started here, and I finished here.”
His father, Neymar Senior, urged him on social media to continue playing at club level: “Ney, keep playing football. Feel the joy of having the ball at your feet again. Smile on the field again,” he wrote on Instagram.
Since rejoining his boyhood club in January 2025, Neymar has made 43 appearances for Santos across all competitions. Despite injury problems and a long absence from international duty, Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti selected him for the World Cup; Neymar made two substitute appearances and scored a late penalty against Norway.
(Inputs from IANS)