Neymar Considers Retirement After Injury-Plagued Return With Santos

Neymar Jr.’s long-awaited return to Brazilian football has fallen well short of expectations. The global superstar is living through a difficult second spell with Santos, marked by constant physical setbacks, accumulated fatigue and mounting pressure that has pushed him to question whether he should continue playing at all.

Now 33 years old, Neymar’s career has become a story of brilliance interrupted by injury. Recurrent physical issues have limited his consistency, blocked his best form and kept him out of contention for major individual awards, creating a deep emotional toll. According to Deadline Day, Neymar’s father revealed that the player seriously considered retirement during his most recent stint in the Brasileirão.

“I can’t take it anymore. I need surgery, but I don’t even know if it’s worth it,” Neymar told his father, a statement that reflects the physical and mental exhaustion he has carried in recent years and which has sparked alarm about a potential early farewell.

Neymar’s medical history explains much of the wear he is facing today. During the 2023–24 season, he suffered a torn ACL that sidelined him for 340 days and forced him to miss 48 matches — one of the toughest blows of his career.

That setback was followed by repeated muscle injuries, ankle and thigh problems, and several surgical procedures that prevented any real continuity. Between the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, Neymar accumulated more than 200 days out of action due to different physical issues.

Despite that scenario, he postponed surgery at a critical moment and chose to take on a leadership role. Neymar carried Santos offensively and scored decisive goals in the final rounds to help the club avoid relegation and secure a place in the Copa Sudamericana.

That final push confirmed his commitment to the club that shaped him, but also exposed the heavy physical price he paid. Today, Neymar’s future remains uncertain — torn between attempting one last competitive chapter or bringing his illustrious career to an earlier-than-expected end.