Everything you need to know about the Brazilian superstar!
Neymar was born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil. He began playing football at a young age and joined the youth academy at Santos FC when he was just 11 years old.
He made his professional debut for Santos in 2009 at the age of 17 and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young talents in Brazilian football. He helped Santos win the Copa do Brasil in 2010 and the Copa Libertadores in 2011, scoring crucial goals in both tournaments.
In 2011, Neymar made his debut for the Brazilian national team and quickly became one of the team's key players. He helped the team win the Confederations Cup in 2013 and the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Neymar's performances for Santos and the Brazilian national team attracted the attention of top European clubs, and he eventually joined FC Barcelona in 2013.
He formed a lethal attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona, winning multiple domestic and international titles, including the Uefa Champions League in 2015.
In 2017, Neymar made a record-breaking transfer to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million, making him the most expensive player in football history at the time. He has continued to be a prolific scorer and creative force in attack for both PSG and the Brazilian national team, and he remains one of the most popular and recognizable footballers in the world.
But what are the 13 things you absolutely need to know about the attacker?
Getty ImagesComes from a sporting family
The Brazilian’s father, Neymar da Silva Sr., was a former footballer who played for several clubs in Brazil. Neymar's father was also his first coach and played a significant role in his early development as a football player. He also has a younger sister named Rafaella Beckran, who is also a professional footballer. She played for Santos FC's women's team before retiring from football to focus on her fashion career.
Advertisement100th goal on 20th birthday
Neymar scored his 100th professional goal for Santos on his 20th birthday in a league clash against Palmeiras. Unfortunately, his club lost the match 2-1.
Was close to joining Real Madrid
It is hard to believe but the former Barcelona star was very close to joining their arch-rivals Real Madrid as a 13-year-old. It so happened that Neymar along with his father had visited Madrid in 2005 and underwent a trial at the club. He was pictured at the Santiago Bernabeu and even posed in the club’s dressing room. Real Madrid were ready to sign the talented youngster and a deal was almost sealed but Santos intervened at the last moment and convinced Neymar Sr. to keep the player in Brazil.
GettyMost expensive footballer of all time
In 2017, Neymar made another world-record transfer, this time to Paris Saint-Germain. The transfer fee of €222 million was almost double the previous record fee, and it made Neymar the most expensive player in the world by a significant margin.