𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Neymar has confirmed that he will undergo knee surgery and rest before deciding on his future at Santos.

Despite battling a knee injury, the 33-year-old played through the pain to help his boyhood club avoid relegation from Brazil’s top flight. 

The Brazil international started and captained six of Santos’ last seven Serie A games, scoring five goals and providing an assist during that run as they finished four points ahead of the relegation zone. 

Mais um momento inesquecível de Neymar Jr na Vila Belmiro! 🤍🖤 pic.twitter.com/SQeZ0ewPKX

— Santos FC (@SantosFC) December 8, 2025

Speaking after Santos’ 3-0 victory over Cruzeiro on Sunday that confirmed their survival, Neymar said, per ESPN: “I don’t know (about my future). I asked the club if I could wait for those games. Now I want to rest for a week and forget about football. 

“Obviously, my heart is always in Santos. I’m going to put Santos first. We managed to qualify for the Copa Sudamericana due to everything we’ve done in these last few games. It was what I wanted from the start. 

“We played our football, faced the best teams in the division and picked up points. Santos deserves a lot more, to always be at the top. This is why I came back. To try to help the team as much as possible. 

“They were difficult weeks for me. My mental state was at zero. Thank you to everyone who was with me and helped me through. If it wasn’t for them, I would never have played these games. And to God. 

“These injuries, this knee issue. Now it’s time to relax, and after that, we will go for knee surgery.”

Neymar returned to Santos in January after leaving Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal. In June, he signed a contract extension with the club, that expires in December, and he ended the Brazilian season with 11 goals and four assists in 28 games.

When asked about Neymar’s chances to make Brazil’s World Cup squad for next summer, manager Carlo Ancelotti said earlier this month, per goal.com: “If we talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players. 

“We have to think about Brazil, which can be with Neymar or without Neymar, with other players or without other players.  The definitive list we will make after the FIFA date in March. 

“I understand very well that they are very interested in Neymar. I want to clarify that we are in December, the World Cup is in June, and I will choose the team that will go to the World Cup in May. 

“If Neymar deserves to be, if he is well, better than someone else, he will play in the World Cup and period. I don’t owe anyone a debt.”