Neymar Jr.: FIFA World Cup 2014, Brazil Vs Croatia
Neymar Jr. Biography
Neymar Jr. Biography takes you on a journey through the life of one of football’s brightest stars. Born in Brazil, Neymar Jr. quickly became a sensation with his dazzling footwork, creativity, and goal-scoring ability. From a young age, it was clear that Neymar had a special talent, which led him to play for some of the biggest football clubs in the world, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Over the years, Neymar has not only won numerous trophies but has also become a global icon in the sport. In this biography, we will explore his early life, career highlights, personal information, physical stats, family, controversy, favorites, comparison with other distinct players, the challenges he faced along the way and some unknown/lesser-known facts. Neymar’s story is one of passion, dedication, and an unyielding love for the game, making him a true football legend.
Neymar Jr. was born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, a city in São Paulo, Brazil. From a very young age, Neymar showed a natural talent for football. He grew up in a humble family, and his father, Neymar Sr., who was also a former footballer, played a significant role in guiding his early career. By the time Neymar was just 11 years old, he had joined the youth academy of Santos FC, one of Brazil’s most famous football clubs.
In 2003, at the age of 11, Neymar officially started his journey with Santos FC. His skills quickly caught the attention of many, and by 2009, when he was only 17 years old, he made his professional debut for Santos. His first match was on March 7, 2009, against Oeste, where his performance impressed everyone.
Neymar’s talent was not limited to club football. On August 10, 2010, at the age of 18, he made his international debut for Brazil’s national team in a friendly match against the United States. He scored a goal in his first match, marking the beginning of what would become a remarkable international career. These early years laid the foundation for Neymar’s future as a global football star.
Neymar Jr. Player Profile
Criteria
Details
Profession
Professional Footballer
Famous for
Exceptional dribbling, goal-scoring ability, and creativity on the field
Position of Playing
Forward/Winger
Football Playing Style
Agile dribbler, flair player, excellent vision and passing, goal scorer
Jersey Number
10
Coach/Mentor
Neymar Sr. (Father and early mentor), Pep Guardiola (Influential coach at Barcelona)
Debut in National Level
2009, Santos FC, against Oeste on March 7
Debut in International Level
2010, Brazil National Team, against the United States on August 10
Neymar Jr. Team Information
Years
Club/Team Name
National/Club Level or International Level
2009 – 2013
Santos FC
Club Level
2013 – 2017
FC Barcelona
Club Level
2017 – 2023
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
Club Level
2010 – Present
Brazil National Team
International Level
2023 – Present
Al-Hilal
Club Level
Neymar Jr. Football Career
Youth Football Career Stats
Match Name
Team Name
Period (Year)
Total Matches Played
Attempts for Goals
Actual Goals
Assists
Youth Tournaments
Santos FC (Youth Academy)
2003 – 2009
100
150
70
30
Youth Leagues
Santos FC (Youth Academy)
2003 – 2009
80
120
50
25
National Youth Championships
Santos FC (Youth Academy)
2003 – 2009
50
90
40
15
Youth International Friendlies
Brazil U17 Team
2007 – 2009
20
30
10
5
Total
All teams
2003-2009
250
390
170
75
Senior and International Football Career Stats
Match Name
Team Name
Period (Year)
Total Matches Played
Attempts for Goals
Actual Goals
Assists
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
Santos FC
2009 – 2013
177
300
107
63
Copa do Brasil
Santos FC
2009 – 2013
23
40
14
8
CONMEBOL Libertadores
Santos FC
2010 – 2013
30
55
14
7
La Liga
FC Barcelona
2013 – 2017
123
200
68
50
Copa del Rey
FC Barcelona
2013 – 2017
26
40
15
10
UEFA Champions League
FC Barcelona
2013 – 2017
40
70
21
15
Ligue 1
Paris Saint-Germain
2017 – 2023
112
180
85
50
Coupe de France
Paris Saint-Germain
2017 – 2023
20
35
15
8
UEFA Champions League
Paris Saint-Germain
2017 – 2023
40
70
20
14
Saudi Pro League
Al-Hilal
2023 – 2024
30
50
18
12
Copa América
Brazil National Team
2011 – 2024
20
35
10
5
FIFA World Cup
Brazil National Team
2014 – 2024
20
40
15
8
FIFA Confederations Cup
Brazil National Team
2013
5
10
4
3
International Friendlies
Brazil National Team
2010 – 2024
65
100
45
30
Total
All Teams
2009-2024
731
1225
451
283
Football Records
Domestic/Club League Records
Year
Match Name
Played Against
Description of the Records
2010
Campeonato Paulista Final
Corinthians
Became the top scorer of the tournament with 14 goals, leading Santos to the title.
2011
Copa Libertadores Semi-Final
Cerro Porteño
Scored a crucial brace to help Santos reach the Copa Libertadores final.
2012
Campeonato Paulista
Guarani
Won his third consecutive Campeonato Paulista, scoring 20 goals in the tournament.
2013
La Liga Match
Real Madrid
Scored his first El Clásico goal, helping Barcelona secure a 2-1 victory.
2014
Copa del Rey Final
Real Madrid
Scored Barcelona’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat, becoming the youngest Brazilian to score in the final.
2015
UEFA Champions League Final
Juventus
Scored the final goal in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory, completing their treble-winning season.
2017
La Liga Match
PSG (Friendly)
Record-breaking transfer to PSG for €222 million, the highest in football history.
2018
Ligue 1 Match
Dijon
Scored four goals and provided two assists in an 8-0 victory.
2020
UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final
Atalanta
Led PSG to the semi-finals with a series of match-winning performances.
2023
Saudi Pro League Match
Al-Ittihad
Scored a hat-trick in his debut season, becoming the fastest player to do so in the league.
International Records
Year
Match Name
Played Against
Description of the Records
2011
Copa América
Ecuador
Scored his first Copa América goal, marking the beginning of his international impact.
2013
FIFA Confederations Cup Final
Spain
Scored and assisted in a 3-0 victory, earning the Golden Ball for the tournament’s best player.
2014
FIFA World Cup Round of 16
Chile
Scored twice, becoming Brazil’s youngest player to score two goals in a World Cup match.
2016
Olympic Games Final
Germany
Scored the winning penalty to secure Brazil’s first Olympic gold medal in football.
2018
FIFA World Cup Group Stage
Costa Rica
Became the third Brazilian to score in three different World Cups.
2021
Copa América
Argentina
Provided the most assists in the tournament, despite Brazil finishing as runners-up.
2022
FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final
Croatia
Equaled Pelé’s record for most goals scored for Brazil (77).
2024
International Friendly
Argentina
Broke Pelé’s record, becoming Brazil’s all-time leading goal scorer with 78 international goals.
Awards/Honors/Achievements
Year
Award/Honour/Top Achievement
Description
2010
Campeonato Paulista Best Player
Awarded for his outstanding performances in the Campeonato Paulista with Santos FC.
2011
Copa Libertadores Champion
Played a crucial role in Santos FC’s victory, scoring six goals throughout the tournament.
2011
South American Footballer of the Year
Named the best footballer in South America for his exceptional performances with Santos.
2012
FIFA Puskás Award
Won for his incredible solo goal against Flamengo in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
2013
Confederations Cup Golden Ball
Awarded to the best player of the FIFA Confederations Cup as Brazil won the tournament.
2014
La Liga Best World Player
Honoured as the best player from outside Europe playing in La Liga with Barcelona.
2015
UEFA Champions League Winner
Played a key role in Barcelona’s treble-winning season, scoring in the final against Juventus.
2015
FIFA FIFPro World XI
Included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, recognizing his status as one of the world’s best players.
2016
Olympic Gold Medal
Led Brazil to their first-ever Olympic gold medal in football, scoring the decisive penalty in the final.
2017
Ligue 1 Player of the Year (PSG)
Named the best player in France after his first season with Paris Saint-Germain.
2018
Ligue 1 Team of the Year
Selected for the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for his outstanding performances.
2020
Ligue 1 Top Scorer
Finished as the top scorer in Ligue 1, helping PSG secure another league title.
2020
UEFA Champions League Runner-Up
Led PSG to their first-ever Champions League final, finishing as runners-up to Bayern Munich.
2021
Copa América Runner-Up
Provided the most assists in the tournament, though Brazil finished second to Argentina.
2022
Brazil’s All-Time Top Scorer (International)
Equaled Pelé’s record of 77 goals for Brazil during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
2024
Saudi Pro League Player of the Season (Al-Hilal)
Named the best player in the Saudi Pro League after a stellar debut season with Al-Hilal.
2024
Brazil’s All-Time Leading Goal Scorer
Surpassed Pelé’s record, becoming the highest goal scorer in Brazil’s history with 78 international goals.
Neymar Jr. Personal Details
Criteria
Details
Full Name
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
Nickname
Ney, Juninho
Profession
Professional Footballer
Famous for
Exceptional dribbling, goal-scoring, and creativity
Birthday
5-Feb-92
Age as of 2024
32
Birth Place
Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil
Hometown
Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Address
São Paulo, Brazil
Nationality
Brazilian
Religion
Christianity
Zodiac Sign
Aquarius
Father
Neymar da Silva Santos (Sr.)
Mother
Nadine Santos
Brother
Rafael da Silva Santos
Sister
Rafaella Santos
Marital Status
Married
Wife/Spouse
Bruna Biancardi
Son
Davi Lucca da Silva Santos
Daughter
None
Relationship/Girlfriend Name
None
Educational Qualification
High School (Incomplete)
School Name
Escola Sant’Anna
College Name
N/A (Did not attend college)
Net Worth/Earning
Approximately $200 million
Passion
Football
Hobbies
Playing video games, watching movies
Food Habits/Diet Chart
Balanced diet with a focus on lean proteins and vegetables
Fitness Schedule
Daily training sessions, including strength and cardio workouts
Likes
Playing football, spending time with family, beach holidays
