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Neymar rejoined his boyhood club Santos in January 2025 Brazil striker Neymar says he is considering retiring at the end of the year. The 34-year-old - whose £200m move from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain in 2017 remains the highest fee paid for a player - has been blighted by injuries in recent seasons. But he hopes to play in the World Cup for his country this summer. Neymar rejoined his boyhood club Santos from Saudi club Al-Hilal in January 2025 and extended his contract until the end of 2026. However after an injury-hampered first year he then missed the start of the Brazilian season in January following knee surgery in late December, and only returned to action last week. "I don't know what will happen from now on, I don't know about next year, " he told Brazilian online channel Caze. "It may be that when December comes, I'll want to retire. I'm living year to year now. " Neymar is the all-time leading scorer for Brazil, with 79 goals - two more than the legendary Pele. However he last featured for the national team in October 2023 and admitted it was a "huge challenge" to force his way into Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad. "This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it's a World Cup year, and for me too, " he added. Follow your club with BBC Sport Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone Mourinho made 'unacceptable, huge mistake' - Kompany Svitolina beats Gauff in epic to reach Dubai final Four men, one aim - to end 102-year wait for Winter Olympic curling gold The 1994 figure skating scandal that shocked the world Graham Norton and Maria Mc Erlane share their 'so-so' advice The heartwarming, chaotic comedy has returned Has FIFA dropped the ball with ticket pricing? Four men, one aim - to end 102-year wait for Winter Olympic curling gold Who are the winners and losers from F1 pre-season testing? Managing Man Utd the 'ultimate role' - Carrick What if Ed and Tim watched curling? Video What if Ed and Tim watched curling? How safe is bare-knuckle boxing as it fights for mainstream appeal? Second only to England - why so many Swedes are in WSL 'Bigger does not mean better' - why more matches is not for good of the game Five moments that made England centurion Itoje Sutton's predictions v Embrace bassist Steve Firth GB's Hodgkinson 'obliterates' indoor 800m record set on day she was born. Video GB's Hodgkinson 'obliterates' indoor 800m record set on day she was born How Szoboszlai became Liverpool's key man Is Buttler's form a worry? England's T20 World Cup so far analysed From Stoke to the Arctic Circle - 30 years of BBC's Murray behind mic Olympic trials to £6m deal - Shields' full-circle moment Vinicius: Eight years at Real Madrid, 20 cases of alleged racist abuse GB go for men's curling gold and Atkin in halfpipe final - Saturday's guide Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
