It’s a sentence that’s hard to believe if you’ve followed Brazilian football over the past two decades: Neymar might only have three games left in a Santos shirt. After a whirlwind return to his boyhood club earlier this year, the Brazilian icon’s future is once again up in the air.
While fans were dreaming of a fairytale second act, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. Now, with his short-term contract nearing its expiration, questions are being raised about what comes next for Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer.
A Bittersweet Homecoming
When Neymar announced his return to Santos in January, it felt like football had come full circle. The prodigy who had danced past defenders on the Vila Belmiro pitch as a teenager was coming back, older, wiser, and with a resume few could rival.
After stints at Barcelona, PSG, and a brief, injury-riddled chapter at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, the 33-year-old winger was set to reignite his love affair with the club where it all began. But reality doesn’t always follow the script.
Persistent injury problems—an unfortunate theme in Neymar’s career—limited his availability right from the start. Though fans packed the stands in hopes of seeing glimpses of vintage Ney, they were often left disappointed, watching from afar as he worked through rehabilitation rather than ruling the pitch.
Back in Action—But for How Long?
Neymar recently returned to competitive action, coming on as a second-half substitute in Santos’ Copa do Brasil third-round match against CRB. Hopes were high when he entered the pitch in the 66th minute, the crowd buzzing at the sight of their returning hero.
But what was meant to be a triumphant moment ended on a sour note. Santos crashed out of the competition in dramatic fashion, losing on penalties—a bitter pill to swallow for a club trying to rebuild its identity, with Neymar supposed to be a symbol of that rebirth.
After the game, all eyes turned to Neymar. Would he stay? Would he sign a new deal? When asked by Amazon Prime about his future with the club, the forward offered a response that sent a ripple through the fanbase:
“I don’t know yet (if I’m going to renew).”
Not exactly the vote of confidence supporters were hoping for.
Just Three Games to Go?
Neymar’s current contract with Santos runs until the end of June. That leaves just three confirmed matches in which he could feature—three more opportunities for fans to watch one of Brazil’s greatest ever talents wear the white jersey again.
Here are the dates marked on the calendar:
- May 25: Santos vs. Vitória
- June 1: Botafogo vs. Santos
- June 12: Fortaleza vs. Santos
After that? Well, unless something changes—and fast—Neymar could be on the move again.
The European Temptation
Speculation has already started swirling around Neymar’s next destination. Despite his injuries and advancing age, his talent remains undeniable, and there are whispers of interest from European clubs eager to bring the Brazilian flair back to the continent.
A return to La Liga or even a final hurrah in the Premier League has been floated. Given Neymar’s ambitions to captain Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, a move to a club with higher visibility and stiffer competition might appeal to him. There’s also the commercial side of things—endorsements, brand partnerships, and global exposure—which tends to shine brighter on European soil.
But whether he’s still got the legs for another run at European football is up for debate. Neymar hasn’t played consistently at the highest level for some time now. Fitness will be key, and whichever club he ends up with—if he does leave—will have to bet on his body holding up as much as his skill.
What It Means for Santos
For Santos, Neymar’s short-term return was always as much about symbolism as it was about on-field success. This was a club struggling—both financially and competitively—and bringing back their golden boy was supposed to be a rallying cry.
To some extent, it worked. Merchandise sales spiked. Global headlines followed. But the romanticism was never quite matched by results. Santos remain in transition, trying to find consistency in the Brasileirao, and the early Copa do Brasil exit was a gut punch.
If Neymar departs again in June, the club will be left to once more rebuild—perhaps for the last time without him.
Neymar’s Next Chapter
For Neymar himself, this could be the most important stretch of his career. He’s no longer the wide-eyed teenager with a blonde mohawk dazzling defenders. He’s a veteran now, with a legacy to protect and the clock ticking on his international ambitions.
His eye is clearly on the 2026 World Cup. Playing in North America in what could be his international swan song, Neymar wants to be more than just present—he wants to lead, to inspire, to win. And to do that, he needs a platform that will allow him to sharpen his tools and stay fit.
If that’s not Santos, it has to be somewhere else—and fast.
The Emotional Factor
And yet, for all the talk of tactics and fitness and future plans, there’s an emotional undercurrent to all this. Neymar’s bond with Santos isn’t just professional. It’s deeply personal. This is the club that gave him his start, the stage on which he first wowed the world.
You could see it in the way he spoke after the CRB game—there was hesitation, maybe even pain. Saying goodbye to Santos, again, wouldn’t be easy. Not for him, and not for the fans who still chant his name like it’s 2011.
Will He Stay or Will He Go?
As it stands, the answer to that question remains uncertain. Neymar himself doesn’t know, and Santos aren’t exactly in a position to make long-term commitments without guarantees about his fitness.
What’s clear, though, is that the next few weeks will be pivotal—not just for Neymar’s career, but for Brazilian football as a whole. Whether he plays three more games or thirty, Neymar will leave a mark. The question is: will that mark be part of a new chapter at Santos, or just a brief epilogue before the next move?
For now, fans can only watch, hope, and savor every touch of the ball. Because if this really is the end, it deserves to be remembered.
