Neymar has confirmed he will sign what is expected to be a short-term contract with his boyhood club, Santos, as the Brazil striker aims to recharge his career ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Neymar announced Thursday he was returning to Brazilian club Santos, where he started his career, after ending his injury-plagued spell with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.- Pele's heir - At the start of his career he was cast as the heir to Pele.

Neymar made his Santos debut in March 2009 at the age of 17 and scored 136 goals in 225 games before joining Barcelona in 2013. He made 186 appearances across four seasons in Spai