Neymar Jr is seriously weighing up an end to his career after discussing the possibility of retiring earlier than planned with Brazilian content creator Cris Guedes during the Kings League tournament. Retirement is now a genuine prospect in Neymar Jr's thinking.
The toll of recurring injuries
Neymar Jr has been worn down by a run of injuries and physical problems that threaten his ability to perform at the level he expects of himself. He has had injuries in multiple seasons.
Neymar's stated plans
According to French website Foot Mercato, Neymar Jr hinted that he could retire sooner than expected during his chat with Cris Guedes on the sidelines of the Kings League tournament.
Neymar Jr opened the conversation by talking up his desire to feature in the Kings League and insisted that he plans to keep playing until 2030.
The question about retirement
Cris Guedes asked Neymar Jr whether retirement was on his mind. He tried to convince Neymar Jr that he would only be 39 by then, with another five or six years potentially left in him.
Neymar Jr's response to Cris Guedes' suggestion about playing longer offered little comfort about his long-term future in the game. Neymar Jr, the Brazil star, said: “No, I can't, okay” and added: “If you were in my position, you would understand”.
Whether his body can carry him through
Neymar Jr appears to have accepted that his body may not carry him to the finish line he dreams of, even though he still feels the pull of the game.
