Why Neymar could have just three games left in a Santos shirt after casting his future into doubt

The Brazil international, who is his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, returned to his homeland in January after being released from his lucrative contract at Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. He became a free agent after struggling through injury issues in the Middle East.

Neymar's reunion with his boyhood club has not been a grand success, as more fitness problems limit his game time. The player has now returned to action and came on as a 66th-minute substitute in the team's Copa do Brasil third-round clash against CRB as Santos crashed out of the competition after losing on penalties.

After the game, Amazon Prime had asked Neymar about his future at the Brazilian club, to which he replied: "I don't know yet (if I'm going to renew)."

If the 33-year-old does not extend his current deal, which is valid until the end of June, the winger will have only three matches to play for Santos in the Brazilian Serie A against Vitoria on May 25, Botafogo on June 1 and Fortaleza on June 12, respectively. A return to Europe has been speculated on for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is keen to captain Brazil at the 2026 World Cup in North America.