Brazil’s Neymar says FIFA World Cup 2026 will be his last

The injury-prone forward, who plays astatine Saudi nine Al Hilal, wants to ‘work precise hard’ to beryllium with the Brazilian squad astatine the adjacent World Cup.

Brazilian guardant Neymar has announced that the FIFA World Cup 2026 volition beryllium his last, adding helium is assured that Brazil volition suffice for the finals successful North America.

Once 1 of football’s astir feared forwards, Neymar plays nine shot with Saudi Pro League broadside Al Hilal but has suffered agelong stretches connected the sidelines owed to recurring injuries.

“I cognize this volition beryllium my past World Cup, my past shot, my past accidental and I volition bash everything I tin to play successful it,” the 32-year-old attacker, who has not played for Brazil successful much than a year, told CNN.

He besides told the United States quality web successful the interrogation that helium would not regularisation retired reuniting with erstwhile Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez astatine Major League Soccer nine Inter Miami.

“Obviously, playing again with Messi and Suarez would beryllium incredible,” Neymar said astatine an grant ceremonial successful Dubai.

Brazil person struggled successful South American World Cup qualifying.

After 12 of the 18 rounds, they are 5th successful the 10-nation group. But the apical six are guaranteed places successful the World Cup and Brazil are 5 points up of Bolivia successful seventh.

“I person a batch of religion successful the team, successful the players who are emerging, who are young,” helium said. “We’re not successful a presumption wherever we would similar to be.

“I deliberation unneurotic we tin execute thing precise big. We person a year, a year-and-a-half to work, to bash the close things to scope the World Cup.”

Neymar started Brazil’s archetypal 4 qualifying games but went disconnected injured astatine halftime arsenic they mislaid to Uruguay successful October 2023. After genu country helium was retired for a year.

He returned for Al Hilal with 2 little appearances successful October and November but injured a hamstring and has not played since. He said helium is targeting the World Cup.

“I privation to beryllium there, I’m going to effort to bash my best, to enactment precise hard truthful that I tin beryllium with the Brazilian team.”

He volition beryllium 34 by the clip the contention successful the US, Canada and Mexico kicks off.

He could play successful the US earlier then. Al Hilal volition look successful the expanded Club World Cup successful the US successful June wherever Inter Miami, with Messi and Suarez, volition besides beryllium competing.

“They are my friends.” said Neymar, who besides played with Messi astatine Paris Saint-Germain. “We inactive talk to each other. It would beryllium absorbing to revive this trio.”

“I’m blessed successful Saudi Arabia, but who knows? Football is afloat of surprises.

“When the quality came retired that I was leaving Paris Saint-Germain, the transportation model was closed successful the United States, truthful I didn’t person this option.”