Neymar ‘makes decision on next career move’ as he fights to make Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil World Cup squad

Neymar has reportedly agreed to extend his contract at Santos by another year in his fight to make Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.

The 33-year-old has renewed his deal until December 2026 with his boyhood club, according to Fabrizio Romano. 

In November he returned from a hamstring injury and he has since scored five goals in seven games, including a hat-trick against Juventude, while wearing the captain’s armband.

There was plenty of uncertainty as his contract was due to expire imminently but he must see remaining at Santos as a promising route into Carlo Ancelotti‘s plans. 

Earlier in December, Neymar promised to score in the World Cup final and bring the trophy home if he is selected. 

Ancelotti has left the door open to him returning but Neymar has not played for the Selecao since September 2023 after suffering a devastating knee injury. 

The 33-year-old is attempting to break into Brazil’s World Cup squad, having not featured for the national side since 2023

The former Barcelona and PSG winger has missed a total of 89 games since moving to Al-Hilal in 2023 and then his boyhood club Santos earlier this year.

Those lengthy spells in the medical room haven’t stopped him from helping the Brazilian Serie A side, however, as he scored 11 times and claimed four assists to help Santos avoid relegation last season.

He has a battle to get back into the Brazil squad, though, despite being the naion’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals. 

In a dramatic bid to increase his chances of featuring in what is likely to be his last ever World Cup, he is said to be seeking the help of Brazilian physiotherapist Eduardo Santos. 

Santos, who has been dubbed ‘Dr Miracle’ is world-renowned for his unconventional methods which allow his patients – including the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Matheus Cunha – to fast-track their recoveries from serious injuries.

And according to ESPN, the 45-year-old ‘miracle worker’ will bring Neymar to the treatment table after the winger undergoes a partial arthroscopic meniscectomy on his left knee.

Neymar is Brazil’s top scorer of all time, having overtaken Pele in September 2023. He has bagged 79 goals in 128 games for the national team but has, thus far, not been part of Ancelotti’s new-look plans.

The Brazil boss recently spoke about the winger’s absence from his selections, but was defiant as he warned he does not ‘owe anyone a debt’.

‘We talk about Neymar, we have to talk about other players,’ Ancelotti said. ‘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, 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. I don’t owe anyone a debt.’