Brazilian football star Neymar has announced his return to Santos, the club where he began his professional career. This decision comes after a disappointing and injury-ridden period at Al Hilal, a Saudi Arabian team he joined in August 2023.
The 32-year-old forward made the announcement on social media, sharing his excitement about rejoining the Sao Paulo-based club with a post that included nostalgic images from his time at Santos. “I will sign a contract with Santos Futebol Clube,” Neymar stated, marking the beginning of what could be a new chapter in his career. Santos quickly responded, welcoming him back, saying, “Your home awaits you. Your people await you.”
Neymar’s time at Al Hilal was far from successful, as he struggled with several injuries and played just seven games for the team. Despite a lucrative contract reportedly worth around $104 million annually, Neymar could not live up to the expectations. His time in Saudi Arabia took a significant turn for the worse when he ruptured a cruciate ligament in his left knee while playing for Brazil during a 2026 World Cup qualifier. The injury kept him sidelined for nearly a year, and multiple attempts to recover from hamstring and knee injuries followed, further derailing his career.
Al Hilal’s coach, Jorge Jesus, recently expressed disappointment over Neymar’s decline, stating, “He can no longer play at the level we are used to. Things have become difficult for him, unfortunately.”
Now back in Brazil, Neymar’s move to Santos could be a final chance to revive his faltering career. He is aiming to earn a spot in Brazil’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Neymar, who has scored 79 goals in 128 matches for Brazil, faces the challenge of competing at the highest level once again, particularly at Santos, a team that has just returned to the top-tier league in 2023 after spending a year in the second division.
Santos’ busy calendar includes the Sao Paulo State tournament, the Brazilian Cup, and the national championship, all of which will test Neymar’s fitness and abilities. However, the attention Neymar will bring from fans could reignite excitement around the team, which will be eager to see how he performs in this second phase of his career.
Neymar’s early career at Santos was filled with promise. Widely seen as the heir to the legendary Pele, he scored 136 goals in 225 appearances for the club before moving to Barcelona in 2013. At Barcelona, Neymar became part of a star-studded team that included Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, helping the club win the 2015 UEFA Champions League title. He also experienced both triumph and heartbreak on the international stage, including scoring the decisive penalty for Brazil’s gold medal win at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Neymar’s career continued to soar as he moved to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2017 for a world-record transfer fee of 220 million euros. At PSG, Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles and played a key role in helping the team reach the 2020 Champions League final, although they were defeated by Bayern Munich. His time in Paris was marked by personal rivalries with teammates, and after falling out of favor, he made the move to Saudi Arabia in 2023.
