Neymar has been through a lot of ups and downs throughout his career, especially with injuries. Despite those obstacles, the Brazilian star intends on continuing to play until he can’t no more.
Neymar secured a six-month contract extension to remain with his boyhood club Santos FC. The deal will run until December, which he can then choose to extend or consider different options.
It’s a significant decision for the veteran superstar to make as he hopes to be fully fit for Brazil when they take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He’s been through numerous injuries since the end of the 2022 edition in Qatar, including a torn ACL he suffered in October 2023.
He took part in an interview that his family members and friends put together. His wife, Bruna Biancardi, asked him why he continues playing professionally, which he provided an in-depth and inspiring answer.
“What drives me is the love I still feel for football. The desire I feel to play, to be on the field, that’s what drives me every day; to wake up, to train. The love I feel for football will never end. It will stay with me for the rest of my life. At some point, the desire to play, because I can no longer do it, because I can no longer perform as I want to, will end … As long as I still have the desire to play football, you’ll have to share me, my love,” he said.
What’s Next For Neymar With Santos, Brazil
GettySANTOS, BRAZIL – JUNE 01: Neymar (R) of Santos fights for the ball against Gregore of Botafogo during a match between Santos and Botafogo as part of Brasileirao 2025 at Urbano Caldeira Stadium (Vila Belmiro) on June 01, 2025 in Santos, Brazil. (Photo by Miguel Schincariol/Getty Images)
Neymar fully believes he has plenty of gas remaining in the tank. There are things in his career that he has yet to achieve, something that will keep him going until he can’t no more.
On the club side, he hopes to bring Santos FC back into contention in the Brazilian league. They sit at 15th place after 12 matches, having three wins, seven losses and two draws. They have 11 points at the moment, trailing the likes of Sao Paolo and Vasco da Gama. Neymar has only appeared in four of those games, missing the others due to injury or suspension.
Neymar has scored three goals in 12 total matches since he returned to Santos FC this January. He has showed many flashes of brilliance that he still has the ability to play at a high level. What will matter now is that he maintains while being able to stay on the pitch throughout a big stretch of matches. Santos FC will return to action on July 13 against Palmeiras.
On the international front, he will look to return to the Brazilian national team this fall. They have already secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Paraguay 1-0 on June 10. However, he has a crucial role in elevating Brazil’s chances of winning the tournament and needs to see how he plays under new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Brazil’s next matches will be in September, concluding their World Cup qualifiers with two matches. They will first host Chile on Sept. 4 before playing their last qualifying match against Bolivia on Sept. 9.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Brazil Star Neymar Sends Strong Message About Continuing Football Career appeared first on Heavy Sports.