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Neymar Retirement
Neymar Retirement
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior remains one of the most recognisable footballers in the world. As of mid-2025, however, the discussion around his retirement has become increasingly prominent. In this article we explore the most credible information regarding his playing future, contract situation, and retirement prospects.
Current Contract and Playing Status
Neymar, born 5 February 1992 in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, currently plays for Santos FC, the club where he began his senior career. In June 2025, it was confirmed that he had extended his contract with Santos until the end of 2025, giving room for an option of a further extension. His signed extension explicitly stated that he planned to continue playing until he “can no longer perform as I want” rather than announcing a fixed retirement date.
The situation is such that Neymar has not formally declared his retirement, but he has also not ruled it out. Media coverage emphasises that he remains in professional football for now, with fitness and form playing a major part in his decision-making.
Factors Influencing Retirement Consideration
Age and Physical Condition
At 33 years old in 2025, Neymar is reaching the latter stages of a top-level football career. For players of his profile—fast, skilful, frequently involved in attacking duels—physical condition becomes paramount. His recent history includes serious injuries: the ACL tear in October 2023, extended periods of recovery and a stint where playtime was limited. Above all, his own comments suggest a readiness to stop when he is no longer satisfied with his performance. This mindset often signals the beginning of a retirement conversation.
Club and Contract Structure
The fact that he has signed a short-term contract at Santos (until end-2025) gives flexibility. Short term deals often allow players to either transition into new leagues, perhaps less demanding ones, or to retire without being tied down by long contracts. He also retains the option to push for participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which may factor into his playing decisions.
Motivation and Legacy
Neymar has frequently spoken about his love of football and his desire to play as long as he feels capable. In an interview he said: “What drives me is the love I still feel for football.” For such a high-profile athlete, considerations of legacy, milestones and personal satisfaction play a significant role. Rather than a sudden retirement, what is more likely is a gradual winding down of his playing career with an eventual formal announcement when he determines performance levels are no longer acceptable.
Possible Retirement Scenarios
Based on publicly available information, several realistic scenarios emerge regarding Neymar’s retirement:
- He continues at Santos until the end of 2025, then evaluates options for 2026—either extending his stay, joining a less intense league, or retiring.
- He delays retirement until after the 2026 World Cup, if selected and fit, then announces his retirement in 2026 or shortly thereafter.
- He chooses to retire at the end of the 2025 calendar year without pursuit of further professional contracts, recognising the diminishing returns or increasing physical toll.
None of these scenarios can be confirmed publicly yet, and no official retirement announcement has been made as of mid-2025.
What This Means for Fans and Jersey Buyers
For supporters of Neymar and collectors of football memorabilia—such as jerseys bearing his name—the ambiguity around his retirement provides an interesting dynamic:
- Owning a Neymar jersey while the player is active still carries the prospect of future appearances and milestones. For example the latest Santos FC kits on jerseys4pro might feature his name and number while he remains a player.
- If he retires soon, a final season jersey becomes a collectors’ item. Whether it’s a Santos kit, a national team shirt or a special edition, it may gain value with the player’s official retirement date.
- For those watching national team behaviour, a potential final tournament (such as World Cup 2026) may mark the end of his international career. Buyers might look at Brazil national team jerseys on jerseys4pro as part of that narrative.
Conclusion
Neymar has not formally announced his retirement and remains under contract at Santos FC until at least the end of 2025. He has signalled that he will continue playing as long as he feels physically and mentally capable of performing at a high level. While the precise date of retirement remains uncertain, the prevailing evidence points to one of two paths: a decision following the 2025 season or a longer campaign culminating after World Cup 2026. In the meantime, his status as an active player means both his performances and his jersey remain of interest to fans and collectors alike.