Neymar admits retirement an option
Neymar admits he could call time on his playing career when his contract with Santos expires in December.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star returned to his first club in January 2025, after an injury-hit stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal.
He has scored 14 goals in 29 league matches since returning to Brazil, the most of any Santos player in that span and the joint-eighth most among everyone in Serie A.
Neymar's form earned him a recall to the Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti, and though he became only the second Selecao player to score at four different World Cups, after Pele, he was unable to prevent its round-of-16 exit at the hands of Norway.
Ancelotti was criticised for bringing Neymar on while that last-16 tie was poised at 0-0, and he confirmed after the tournament that his international career was over.
He may also have limited time remaining in the club game, with his future uncertain beyond the end of this year.
"I'm not thinking about stopping, nor do I know how long I'll carry on," Neymar said. "I have a contract with Santos until December.
"I intend to see it through, to honour the Santos shirt as best I can, and then I'll think about it when my contract ends... whether I stay at Santos, move on, stop playing or carry on.
"I really don't know what I'm going to do. There's still a long way to go until December, so let's take it one step at a time."
Neymar is Brazil's all-time leading scorer, netting 80 goals in 130 senior caps, having surpassed Pele – who previously held the record with 78 – almost three years ago.
He has won 28 trophies throughout his career, including two LaLiga titles and one Champions League with Barca, and five Ligue 1 crowns with PSG.
Neymar's €222m (£200m) transfer from Barca to PSG in 2017 remains the most expensive in the history of football, though he was often criticised during his time in France for failing to get the club across the line in the Champions League.
