Neymar

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior is a Brazilian professional footballer, who plays as a forward for the national team and Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain. Commonly known as Neymar, he is regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Neymar has scored at least 100 goals for three different clubs, making him one of four players to achieve this.

The versatile attacker is dominant on the left wing but can play on the right wing and as a striker or second striker as well. The Brazilian has 359 club goals from 584 appearances and 77 goals from 124 international caps.

Early Life

Neymar, was born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, a city near São Paulo. He grew up in a small house in a working-class neighborhood with his father, mother, and younger sister, Rafaella.

Neymar started playing football after drawing inspiration from his father who was a professional footballer himself. Neymar had the typical Brazilian footballer traits in him and owing to playing futsal in his childhood, he became renowned for his pace, fluid dribbling skills, great vision, chance creation and his trademark feints.

Neymar's father recognized his son's talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in football. He started playing for a local club, Portuguesa Santista, and was later scouted by Santos FC, one of the most successful football clubs in Brazil. At the age of 11, Neymar moved with his family to Santos, a coastal city in São Paulo, to join the Santos FC youth academy.

Club Career

Neymar started his professional club career at Santos FC in 2009, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents in Brazilian football. In his first season with the club, he scored 14 goals in 48 appearances, helping Santos win the Campeonato Paulista, the São Paulo state championship.

In the following seasons, Neymar continued to impress on the field, winning several individual awards, including the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012. He also helped Santos win the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious club competition in South America, in 2011. In his five-year career with Santos, Neymar scored 70 goals and assisted 35 times in 134 appearances.

In 2013, Neymar joined FC Barcelona in Spain, where he formed a deadly attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, known as "MSN." During his time at Barcelona, Neymar won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and the UEFA Champions League. He scored 105 goals in 186 appearances for the Blaugrana.

In 2017, Neymar made a world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for €222 million. Since joining PSG, Neymar has helped the team win several domestic titles, including four Ligue 1 titles and three Coupe de France trophies. However, he has yet to win the Champions League with PSG. He has been the most prolific for Les Parisiens, scoring 118 goals in 173 appearances to date.

International Career

Neymar made his debut for the Brazilian national team in August 2010, at the age of 18. Since then, he has become one of the most important players for the Seleção, with his skills and creativity on the field making him a key player for the team. He is currently tied with Pele as Brazil’s all-time goal scorer with 77 goals.

Neymar was instrumental in Brazil winning the 2013 Confederations Cup, providing an assist and scoring in the final in a 3-0 victory over Spain in the finals. He was named Player of the Tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball.

In the 2014 World Cup, which was held in Brazil, Neymar played a crucial role in helping the Seleção reach the semi-finals before being sidelined with a back injury in the quarter-finals.

In 2016, Neymar helped Brazil win their first-ever Olympic gold medal in football at the Rio Olympics. He scored the decisive penalty in the final against Germany, which Brazil won 5-4 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

He featured for Brazil in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups however could not prevent his side from being knocked out in the quarter-final stage in both competitions.

Records

• Neymar is the joint-highest scorer in the history of the Brazilian national team, with 77 goals in 124 appearances.

• He is the all-time top scorer for Santos FC in the Copa Libertadores, with 17 goals.

• In the 2011-12 season, Neymar became the first player to win the South American Footballer of the Year award two years in a row since Diego Maradona in 1986 and 1987.

• Neymar is the highest-scoring Brazilian in the history of the UEFA Champions League, with 42 goals.

• He is the first player in history to score in both legs of the Copa del Rey, Champions League, and La Liga in a single season.

• Neymar holds the record for the most expensive transfer in football history, when he was signed by Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million in 2017.

• In 2019, Neymar became the youngest player in Brazilian history to reach 100 caps for the national team, at the age of 27.

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Neymar has been in several high-profile relationships, including with Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine and Spanish model Natalia Barulich. He also has been involved in several legal controversies, including accusations of tax fraud and a highly publicized rape allegation in 2019, which he denied. He was also suspended for several games in 2019 after an altercation with a fan.

Neymar has been open about his love for music and has even released several songs. He has also appeared in several music videos for Brazilian artists. Neymar has been involved in several philanthropic activities, including supporting charities that focus on education and providing aid to children in need.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $200 million.

Family

Neymar was born to Neymar Santos Sr. and Nadine Santos. His father was also a footballer, but his career was cut short by injury. Neymar has a younger sister named Rafaella, who is also well-known in Brazil. She is a social media influencer and has her own fashion line.

Neymar's parents have been involved in his football career since he was a child, with his father serving as his agent and his mother as his manager. In addition to his immediate family, Neymar is also close to his extended family, including his grandparents, aunts, and cousins.

Partner

Neymar is reportedly single and not publicly dating anyone. However, as a public figure, his personal life and relationships have been subject to media speculation in the past. Neymar has been in several high-profile relationships, including with Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine and Spanish model Natalia Barulich. However, he has not confirmed any current relationship publicly.

Houses

These are his most notable properties:

Mansion in Brazil: Neymar has a lavish mansion in his hometown of Santos, Brazil, which he bought in 2012. The house features a home cinema, gym, spa, and a pool with a built-in bar.

Apartment in Paris: Neymar owns an apartment in Paris, which he purchased after signing with Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. The apartment is located in a high-end residential building in the 15th arrondissement of Paris and has stunning views of the Eiffel Tower.

Penthouse in Brazil: In 2021, Neymar reportedly bought a penthouse in São Paulo, Brazil, for a reported $7.2 million. The penthouse features a rooftop pool and panoramic views of the city.