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Analysis
- 9 minutes ago
Neymar names retirement date as injuries catch up to the Brazilian superstar
Robin Bairner
- 20 Feb 2026 04:30 CST
- 3 min read
Nieuws
Former Barcelona and PSG star Neymar has announced that this could be his last season of professional football.
Neymar celebrated his 34th birthday earlier this month, but the forward appears to have little intention of following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by playing too much longer.
Indeed, in an interview with Caze TV, the Santos attacker has indicated that he could call time on his career following the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar: I could quit this year
“I don’t know what the future holds,” Neymar admitted.
“I don’t know what next year will bring. It’s possible that in December I’ll want to retire. I’m taking it one day at a time now.
“This year is very important, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, because it’s the World Cup year.
“For me too, it’s a huge challenge. I’m taking it one day at a time. I don’t know what the future holds, I don’t know what next year will bring.
“It’s possible that in December I’ll want to retire, but it will be a decision that comes from the heart. I’m taking it one day at a time. We’re moving forward little by little.”
Injuries leave Neymar’s career in the balance
Neymar’s career has been beset by serious injury problems since he completed a world-record €222 million move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017.
These prevented him from hitting the heights both he and the Parisian club had hoped for at Parc des Princes and were the catalyst for a €90m move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in 2023.
While in Saudi Arabia, he suffered an ACL injury and has struggled to regain fitness since.
Indeed, he was released by Al-Hilal to move back to Santos on a free transfer at the beginning of 2025, but injuries have continued to plague Neymar.
Hamstring problems have regularly hampered him since moving back home, while he has recently returned from knee surgery.
Neymar’s aim is to play for Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, but if he is to achieve this goal, he needs better luck with injuries than he has had for many years.
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