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Last updated: Aug 14, 2023
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Brazilian soccer forward Neymar Júnior is one of the best goalscorers in history. He is also known for signing some of the biggest contracts and incurring the highest transfer fees in club soccer. Keep reading to learn more about Neymar, a living legend of international and club soccer.
Table of Contents
- Neymar Jr.
- Social Media
- Net Worth
- Soccer Career
- Titles and Awards
- Personal Life
- Fun Facts
- FAQ
Neymar Jr.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, more commonly known as Neymar Jr., is one of the most famous professional soccer players in the world.He was born February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil.He grew up playing soccer in Brazil. His dad, Neymar Santos Sr., was a professional soccer player and has been his mentor since a young age. He has played for multiple successful clubs over the years.
Neymar has jumped club locations from South America to Spain to France, and now to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.However, he still continues to play for his home country of Brazil on the international stage. He is a fun player to watch who typically plays striker or left winger. He is creative, fast, and an excellent attacker. Neymar Jr. is adored by millions of football fans around the entire world.
- Born: February 5, 1992 (05-02-1992)
- Education: Lupe Picasso
- Net Worth: $200 million
- Occupation: Professional Soccer Player
- Height: 5’8” (1.77 m)
- Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)
- Position: Forward, Left Wing
- Years Active: 2009-present
- Nicknames: Juninho, Joia
- Teams: Praia Grande (1992-2009), Santos FC (2009-2013), Brazil National Team (2010-present), FC Barcelona (2013-2017), Paris Saint-Germain (2017-2023), Al Hilal SFC (2023-present)
Net Worth
Neymar Jr. has a net worth of $200 million.He earned most of his wealth from his lucrative player contracts with various clubs, notably a five-year deal with Paris Saint Germain that paid him $36.5 million per season.As he collects his record-breaking yearly salary of $219 million from Al Hilal SFC in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Neymar’s net worth will likely increase.Endorsem*nt deals with Puma, Red Bull, Qatar Airways, Epic Games, and Triller also provide income for Neymar.
Soccer Career
Neymar Jr. first started playing soccer in São Vicente, Brazil.When his family moved to Santos, he joined the elite soccer club Santos FC and played five seasons for them.In 2009, he made his professional debut with Santos FC at only 17 years old.
Brazilian National Team
Neymar started to gain global recognition as a rising star and brought unparalleled success to his club team. He played with the Brazilian Youth National Teams growing up, but made his debut match for the senior Brazilian National Team in 2010.He has been playing with the national team ever since and helped earn Brazil’s first gold medal win at the 2016 Olympics.
European Club Soccer
In 2013, Neymar left Santos to play for FC Barcelona alongside other stars such as Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.After dominating for four seasons, Neymar left and signed with French club Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
Al Hilal SFC
In 2023, Neymar left PSG for the Saudi Professional League club Al Hilal SFC.They offered him a two-year, €400 million ($438 million USD) contract, making him the highest-paid player in the world at the time.Additionally, Al Hilal reportedly paid Paris Saint-Germain a transfer fee of €90 million ($98 million) to secure Neymar on their roster.
Titles and Awards
- One-time Olympic gold medalist (2016)
- One-time Olympic silver medalist (2012)
- One-time Copa do Brasil Champion (2010)
- One-time UEFA Champions League Champion (2014-15)
- UEFA Champions League Runner-Up (2019-2020)
- Three-time Copa del Rey Champion (2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017)
- FIFA Club World Cup Champion (2015)
- FIFA Confederations Cup Champion (2013)
- Copa América Runner-Up (2021)
- FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball (2011)
- South American Footballer of the Year (2011, 2012)
- FIFA Puskás Award (2011)
- FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball (2013)
- FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze Shoe (2013)
- FIFA Confederations Cup Dream Team (2013)
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot (2014)
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team (2014)
- IFFHS Men's World Team (2017)
Neymar Jr. has accumulated many team and individual awards throughout his career. He has played in over 700 professional matches. With his first professional club, Santos FC, he was awarded South American Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2012.Additionally, he was named the Brazilian Footballer of the Year in 2011.
Neymar has played in two World Cups and won Olympic Gold for his team in 2016 with a winning penalty.He won the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2015 with FC Barcelona.He was recently named the Ligue1 Player of the Year in 2018.His current club is Al Hilal SFC in the Saudi Professional League.
Personal Life
Neymar is one of the most famous athletes in the world. He is one of the highest-paid soccer players in the world, with an estimated $219 million in annual earnings.His move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 included a deal signed for $263 million, the most expensive transfer in soccer history.
Neymar inherited his incredible soccer talent from his father, Neymar Santos Sr., who was a professional soccer player.His father pushed him to be the best and eventually became his agent. His family consists of his parents and his sister Rafaella, with whom he has a close relationship.
In August 2011, Neymar and his former girlfriend Carolina Dantas had a son and named him David Lucca.His marital status is single. He is an avid Christian and has many tattoos that symbolize his faith, family, and history.
Fun Facts
- Neymar donates 10% of his yearly earnings to his church back in Brazil.
- Neymar is sponsored by Beats Electronics, DAZN, Electronic Arts, Gillette, Mastercard, McDonald’s, Nike, Red Bull, and TCL.
- He organizes a charity match every year with fellow soccer player Nene.
- At age 14, Neymar was offered to play for Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. His club team, Santos FC, convinced him to stay with increased pay.
- In 2010, Neymar scored 28 minutes into his debut match for the Brazilian National team.
- Neymar scored his 100th professional goal on his 20th birthday in 2012.
- His father, Neymar Santos Sr., became his agent, and both faced corruption charges regarding the transfer fee paid by FC Barcelona.
- Neymar has a private jet, yacht, helicopter, and several other properties located across his home country of Brazil.
- He scored the game-winning penalty kick in the 2016 Olympics for Brazil to win gold.
FAQ
What are Neymar’s best traits as a soccer player?
Neymar is known for being confident on the field with explosive speed, great balance on the ball, and quick reflexes.Neymar is a fun and exciting player to watch on the pitch. He is one of the best soccer players in the world, with millions of fans watching every game. He is a great speed dribbler and can find the back of the net with his incredible finishing abilities.
How many games and goals did Neymar tally for his teams over the years?
During his time with his first professional club, Santos FC, Neymar played in 134 games and recorded 70 goals.After leaving Santos FC in 2013, he decided to play for FC Barcelona. For this club, he played in 186 games and scored 105 goals during his four seasons with them.In 2017, he left FC Barcelona for the French club Paris Saint-Germain, where he played until 2023. He played in 173 games and recorded 112 goals for PSG.
What was the lawsuit filed by FC Barcelona in 2017 regarding Neymar’s contract?
In a 2017 lawsuit filed against Neymar, FC Barcelona asked the left winger to return the already-paid portion of his contract renewal due to the failure to complete his new contract.When Neymar left FC Barcelona in 2017 for his new French club PSG, a lawsuit quickly followed him. Neymar left FC Barcelona after signing a fairly new deal. Additionally, FC Barcelona asked for €8.5 million in damages and an additional 10% due to delayed payment.In 2020, the verdict in the case came down in favor of FC Barcelona and ordered Neymar to pay €6.7 million ($7.51 million) to his former team.After further negotiation, Neymar and FC Barcelona settled their dispute outside of court in 2021.
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