Star Brazilian forward Neymar Jr’s father, Neymar Sr, has revealed that his son considered retirement from professional football during continued injury woes last year. The star footballer, who has been seen as the best of the current generation from his country, has had a career marred by injuries.
Gifted with extraordinary talent, Neymar appeared destined to define an era. Yet off-field problems and recurring setbacks gave him the reputation of ‘the prince who never wanted to be king’.
Over the years, as injuries piled up, the physical and mental strain started to take its toll on Neymar.
“I cannot take it anymore. I need surgery, but I don’t even know if it is worth it, Dad. I am exhausted,” Neymar told his father, as quoted by Deadline Day.
The star forward has battled a long list of injuries, causing him to miss large portions of his career. One of the most serious was an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, which kept him out for over 300 days in the 2023–24 season.
After postponing the procedure, Neymar underwent the necessary surgery for his joint problems on December 23. Santos confirmed the arthroscopic operation was carried out by a specialist, with a recovery timeline now in place.
Meanwhile, Santos have confirmed that Neymar will remain with the club until the end of the year.
Neymar’s previous contract expired on December 31, but the Brazilian forward, who played a key role in helping Santos retain their top-flight status, has agreed to a new deal, all set to be announced soon.
Neymar, 33, was preparing to sign a contract running until June 10, according to reports, just a day before the start of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Brazil begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco on Sunday, June 14, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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