From ACL Nightmare to Santos Savior: Neymar's 2026 Extension for World Cup Glory

World Cup Call-Up Loading Brazilian superstar Neymar has put pen to paper on a new contract with boyhood club Santos, keeping him at the Vila Belmiro until the end of 2026 as he chases a dramatic return to the Seleção for this summer's World Cup. The 33-year-old forward, who rejoined Santos in January 2025, has been sidelined from international duty since 2023 due to a string of devastating injuries. Despite playing through pain last season, Neymar was the hero who saved Santos from relegation, scoring five crucial goals in their final five matches. Following successful surgery on his left knee to repair a damaged meniscus, Neymar is now laser-focused on proving his fitness to Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti. In an emotional video posted on Santos' social media, Neymar told the passionate fans: "Santos is my place, I'm at home. It's with you that I want to achieve the dreams that are still missing." Ancelotti has been clear: Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, must be fully fit to earn a recall. The former Barcelona and PSG icon has already overcome a ruptured ACL that kept him out for 12 months in 2023, and a muscle injury that forced him to withdraw from a planned comeback last year. Now fully committed to Santos, Neymar turned down other offers to stay and fight for his World Cup dream. Brazil open their campaign in Group C against Scotland, Morocco, and Haiti when the tournament kicks off on 11 June across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Can Neymar roll back the years and lead Brazil to a sixth star? His journey from injury nightmare to potential World Cup hero is pure football magic. What do you think – will we see Neymar in the famous yellow shirt this summer? Drop your predictions in the comments below, and share this post with your fellow football fans,