Neymar reveals why he continues playing football at age 33

Brazilian football star Neymar Junior has revealed his determination to continue playing football — as long as he can perform to his expectations.

The 33-year-old recently extended his contract with Santos until the end of the year, with an option to extend through the 2026 World Cup.

“What drives me is the love I still feel for football. The desire to play and be on the field — that’s what motivates me every day to wake up and train,” Neymar shared in an interview with his family.

After leaving Al Hilal, Neymar returned to his childhood club Santos — however, an ACL injury suffered while playing for Brazil in October 2023 has limited his appearances. This season, he has only managed three goals and three assists in 15 matches.

Responding to criticism about his lifestyle, Neymar emphasized that people often judge without understanding his life. He admitted spending most of his career feeling sad about this but maintains a strong mindset when dealing with social media comments.

“My football career will end, my name will remain in history. What matters most are the people who truly know me,” he added.