Home SPORTS Neymar Targets 2026 World Cup as He Eyes Santos Return

Neymar Targets 2026 World Cup as He Eyes Santos Return

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Neymar is eyeing a return to Santos as he bids to revive his career and achieve his goal of playing in the 2026 World Cup, which he believes will be his last.



Neymar's 18-month stint with Al Hilal has come to an end, with the club announcing on Monday that they have “agreed to terminate the player's contract by mutual consent.” This decision marks the conclusion of Neymar's injury-plagued tenure in Saudi Arabia. In a statement posted on social media, Al Hilal expressed their gratitude to Neymar, saying, “The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al Hilal, and wish the player success in his career.”


Neymar's time at Al Hilal was marred by injuries, which limited him to just seven appearances since joining the club in August 2023. Despite his reported salary of around $104 million a year, Neymar's playing time was severely impacted by a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee, which he suffered in October 2023 while playing for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier. This injury kept him sidelined for a year, and although he made two brief appearances for Al Hilal in October and November, he injured a hamstring and has not played since.


Neymar is now expected to join Santos, with ESPN reporting that he could be with the club as soon as Wednesday. The 32-year-old forward has expressed his desire to play in the World Cup, and a move to Santos may provide him with the opportunity to regain his fitness and form. Al Hilal's coach, Jorge Jesus, had recently stated that Neymar's injuries had taken a toll on his performance, saying, “He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”



Neymar has expressed his determination to play in the 2026 World Cup, which he believes will be his last. In an interview with CNN earlier in January, Neymar stated, “I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance and I will do everything I can to play in it.” This ambition has fueled speculation about his future, with reports suggesting that he may join Santos, the Brazilian club where he began his career.


A return to Santos would be a poignant move for Neymar, who is Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 127 matches. Born into a football-mad family, Neymar was hailed as the heir to Pele's throne from a young age. He burst onto the scene with Santos, scoring 107 goals in 177 appearances before joining Barcelona in 2013. At Barcelona, Neymar formed a deadly trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, winning the Champions League title in 2015.



Neymar's subsequent career has been marked by both triumph and turmoil. He won the men's football gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, scoring the winning penalty in a shootout. In 2017, he joined Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record transfer fee of 220 million euros ($230 million). During his time at PSG, Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles and reached the Champions League final in 2020, although they ultimately lost to Bayern Munich.


Despite his successes, Neymar's time at PSG was also marked by personal rivalries and tensions, particularly with teammate Kylian Mbappe. The expected trio of Neymar, Mbappe, and Lionel Messi failed to gel, and Neymar was eventually pushed out by the Parisian management in 2023. He joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, but his time there was cut short due to injuries. Now, a return to Santos may offer Neymar a chance to revive his career and achieve his goal of playing in the 2026 World Cup.




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