Career Timeline of Neymar: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Neymar built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Neymar Júnior is a Brazilian professional footballer renowned for his exceptional dribbling, technical skills, playmaking, and finishing abilities. He currently plays for Santos and captains the Brazil national team. Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, Neymar is among the few players to have scored 100 goals for three different clubs. He is Brazil's all-time top goalscorer and assist provider in the UEFA Champions League, ranks second among South American men's top international goalscorers, and was formerly the all-time top assist provider in international football. He boasts over 400 career goals and 250 assists.
2003: Contract with Santos
In 2003, Neymar was offered a contract by Santos and inducted into their youth academy.
2006: Kaká tops the Champions League scoring list
On June 6, Neymar scored in the Champions League Final, securing Barcelona's victory. This made Barcelona the first club to twice win the treble. Neymar became the eighth player to win both the Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League, and the first to score in final victories in both competitions. Neymar ended the season with 39 goals and was joint highest scorer in the Champions League. He was the first player apart from Messi and Ronaldo to top the competition's scoring list since Kaká in 2006–07. The attacking trio of Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar, dubbed MSN, ended with 122 goals, the most in a season for an attacking trio in Spanish football history.
March 2009: Professional Debut
On 7 March 2009, one month after turning 17 years old, Neymar made his professional debut, in a 2–1 win against Oeste.
2009: Professional debut with Santos
In 2009, Neymar made his professional debut with Santos.
May 2010: Copa do Brasil Quarterfinals Victory
On 5 May 2010, Neymar scored a goal in the 3–1 Copa do Brasil quarterfinals victory over Atletico-MG.
November 2010: Share of Future Transfer Fees Sold
On 30 November 2010, Santos sold a 5% share of Neymar's future transfer fees to an investment group for R$ 3,549,900 (€1.5 million).
2010: Rapid Development and Campeonato Paulista Champion
In 2010, Neymar continued his rapid development, and the club were crowned champions of the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, after which Neymar was given the award for best player.
2010: Interest from European Clubs
In the 2010 summer transfer window, Santos rejected a £12 million bid from West Ham United and a £20 million offer from Chelsea for Neymar.
March 2011: Neymar signs with Nike and Panasonic
In March 2011, Neymar signed an 11-year contract with Nike and a two-year deal with Panasonic for US$2.4 million.
July 2011: First Goals of Campeonato Brasileiro
On 27 July 2011, Neymar scored his first goals of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro, scoring two goals in a thrilling match against Ronaldinho's Flamengo. His first goal later won the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award.
September 2011: Real Madrid Interest and Contract Denial
In September 2011, Santos club president Luís Ribeiro threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA following reports that they had attempted to sign Neymar to a pre-contract agreement.
2011: Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores Wins
In 2011, Neymar scored crucial goals during the season. He scored the only goal of the quarterfinals matchup against Ponte Preta, and scored the winning goal in the second leg of the finals against Corinthians to help his club clinch back-to-back state titles. He also scored six goals during Santos' run to the 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals, winning Man of the Match honors and bringing Santos their first Copa Libertadores triumph since 1963.
2011: Copa Libertadores Win with Santos
In 2011, Neymar won the Copa Libertadores with Santos, scoring in the finals.
2011: Neymar's Puskas Award Goal
Neymar scored the FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year for his performance for Santos against Flamengo in 2011.
February 2012: 100th Professional Goal
On 5 February 2012, when he turned 20, Neymar scored his 100th goal as a professional football player, against Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista.
April 2012: Hat-Trick Against São Paulo
On 29 April 2012, Neymar scored a hat-trick against São Paulo, with the match ending 3–1.
August 2012: Neymar scores a brace against Palmeiras
On August 25, 2012, Neymar scored twice in Santos' 2-1 victory over Palmeiras.
November 2012: Neymar's personal brand logo created
In November 2012, advertising agency Loducca created Neymar's personal brand logo, featuring the letters N, J, and R styled to match his shirt number 11.
2012: Neymar cameos in music video
In 2012, Neymar made cameo appearances in the music video for "Eu Quero Tchu, Eu Quero Tcha" by João Lucas & Marcelo.
2012: Campeonato Paulista Champion and Copa Libertadores
In 2012, Neymar scored twice in both legs of the Campeonato Paulista Finals against Guarani, finishing with 20 goals and being voted Best Player and Best Forward. He was also joint top scorer in the Copa Libertadores, where Santos were beaten in the semi-finals.
2012: Neymar featured on Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 cover
In 2012, Neymar was featured on the North American cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2012.
2012: Pelé and others compare Neymar to Messi and Ronaldo
In 2012, Pelé declared Neymar the world's best player, while Diego Maradona suggested this was only true if Lionel Messi was from another planet. Neymar acknowledged Messi's superiority, stating he gets inspiration from Messi. Ronaldo and Zico also praised Neymar, comparing him to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. After scoring a hat-trick against Internacional, Neymar expressed his admiration for Messi and desire to emulate him in 2012.
January 2013: Neymar scores twice against São Bernardo
Neymar began the 2013 Campeonato Paulista season strongly, scoring twice in a 3-1 victory over São Bernardo on January 19, 2013.
February 2013: Neymar appears on Time magazine cover
In February 2013, Neymar appeared on the cover of Time magazine, becoming the first Brazilian athlete to do so.
April 2013: Neymar Jr. in Monica's Gang comic book
In April 2013, Brazilian cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa released a Monica's Gang comic book featuring a younger version of Neymar (called Neymar Jr.) as the main character.
May 2013: Neymar named most marketable athlete by SportsPro
In May 2013, Neymar was named by SportsPro magazine as the most marketable athlete in the world, ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. Also in May 2013, Neymar launched the Nike Hypervenom football boot.
May 2013: Neymar named most marketable athlete by SportsPro for second year
In May 2013, SportsPro magazine named Neymar as the most marketable athlete on the planet for the second consecutive year.
May 2013: Neymar Announces Signing with Barcelona
On May 24, 2013, Santos announced they received two offers for Neymar. On May 25, 2013, Neymar announced he would sign with Barcelona on May 27, planning to join after the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Details of the transfer fee and personal terms were not released, but he signed a five-year deal.
July 2013: Neymar's Unofficial Debut for Barcelona
On July 30, 2013, Neymar made his unofficial debut for Barcelona as a substitute in a pre-season friendly against Lechia Gdańsk, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
2013: Neymar's Debut and Supercopa de España Win with Barcelona
During the opening game of the 2013–14 La Liga season, Neymar made his La Liga debut for Barcelona as a substitute on August 21, 2013. Later, in the Supercopa de España against Atlético Madrid, he scored his first goal for the club, securing the trophy for Barcelona due to the away goal rule.
2013: Neymar appears on a rap music video
In 2013, Neymar appeared on a rap music video, "País do Futebol" by MC Guimê.
2013: Neymar's Debut and Goals in the Champions League and La Liga
In 2013, Neymar debuted in the UEFA Champions League on September 18, assisting a goal in Barcelona's 4-0 win against Ajax. On September 24, he scored his first La Liga goal against Real Sociedad. On October 26, he scored in his first El Clásico. On December 11, Neymar scored his first Champions League hat-trick in a 6-1 victory over Celtic.
2013: Golden Ball Award at 2013 Confederations Cup
In 2013, Neymar had outstanding performances in the Confederations Cup, scoring in multiple matches including the final against Spain. He received the Golden Ball award for being the tournament's best player and finished fifth in the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or rankings.
2013: Neymar's intention to leave for Europe revealed
In 2013, Neymar scored four goals against União Barbarense on April 13. On April 25, his agent and father revealed that Neymar intended to leave for Europe before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Neymar finished the state league campaign with 12 goals, and was runner-up in the top scorers charts.
2013: Selected for Brazil's 2013 Confederations Cup squad
In 2013, Neymar was chosen for Brazil's squad for the Confederations Cup, hosted in their home country, and he was assigned the number 10 shirt for the tournament.
2013: Neymar featured on Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 cover
In 2013, Neymar was featured on the North American cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2013.
2013: Signed by Barcelona
In 2013, Neymar was signed by Barcelona, where he joined Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez to form the attacking trio known as MSN.
2013: Arrival in Europe
Neymar registered the fewest test scored since arriving in Europe in 2013, in a season marked by various injuries and collective irregularity.
March 2014: Neymar scores hat-trick against South Africa
In March 2014, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a friendly match against South Africa in Johannesburg. After the match, he made headlines by interacting with a young fan who ran onto the pitch, inviting him to celebrate with the Brazil team.
June 2014: Neymar appears on Vogue Brazil cover with Gisele Bündchen
In June 2014, Neymar appeared with Gisele Bündchen on the front cover of Vogue's Brazilian edition to mark the World Cup commencing in Brazil.
September 2014: Neymar scores twice against Athletic Bilbao
On September 13, 2014, Neymar scored his first two goals of the 2014–15 season in a match against Athletic Bilbao. On September 27, he scored a hat-trick against Granada.
November 2014: Neymar in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign
In November 2014, Neymar appeared in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign with other football players to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it.
2014: Neymar's intention to leave for Europe revealed
In 2013, Neymar scored four goals against União Barbarense on April 13. On April 25, his agent and father revealed that Neymar intended to leave for Europe before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Neymar finished the state league campaign with 12 goals, and was runner-up in the top scorers charts.
2014: Neymar stars in Beats advert
In 2014, Neymar starred in an advert for Beats alongside other football stars, with the theme of 'The Game Before The Game'.
2014: Treble Win with Barcelona
In 2014, Neymar won the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League with Barcelona, and he finished as the top goalscorer of that season's Champions League and the Copa del Rey.
2014: Named in Brazil squad for 2014 World Cup
In June 2014, Neymar was chosen for the Brazil squad for the 2014 World Cup, held in Brazil. Expectations were high for him to lead the team to victory on home soil. He scored and assisted in a friendly win against Panama before the tournament.
2014: Contract Extension
On 9 November 2011, Neymar and Santos agreed to a contract extension that would see the player stay with the club until after the 2014 World Cup, increasing his wages.
2014: Neymar scores against Arsenal
On March 16, 2016, Neymar scored against Arsenal in the Champions League, helping Barcelona advance. Barcelona was later knocked out by Atlético Madrid. Neymar's 2015-16 season saw him get 5 assists in 9 Champions League games.
2014: Neymar scores four goals against Rayo Vallecano
On October 17, 2015, Neymar scored four goals in Barcelona's 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano. On November 8, he scored a stunning goal against Villarreal. On November 21, he scored one and assisted another in a win against Real Madrid. He scored twice against Real Sociedad on November 28. Several media outlets praised Neymar as elevating to the same level of Messi and Ronaldo and being shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, where he came in third place.
January 2015: Neymar's goals and assists against Elche and Atletico Madrid
On January 24, 2015, Neymar scored twice and assisted two more goals in a 6-0 win against Elche. On January 28, he scored his 20th goal of the season in a Copa del Rey match against Atlético Madrid.
March 2015: Neymar has the fourth highest social media rank
In March 2015, Neymar had the fourth highest social media rank in the world among sportspeople, behind Ronaldo, Messi and David Beckham, with 52 million Facebook fans.
June 2015: Suspension at the 2015 Copa América
In June 2015, during the Copa América, Neymar scored and assisted in Brazil's opening match against Peru. However, after a loss to Colombia, he received a red card for kicking the ball at an opponent, resulting in a four-match suspension and a $10000 fine, ending his tournament.
2015: Neymar's performance in Messi's absence
In 2015, Neymar missed the UEFA Super Cup and the Supercopa de España due to having the mumps. After Messi's injury in September 2015, Neymar was praised as the best player in the world, scoring 13 goals and providing 9 assists in 8 games.
2015: Neymar's performance in Copa del Rey and Champions League
In 2015, Neymar scored twice in Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final win over Villarreal on March 4. On April 21, he scored twice in a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. In May, he scored against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final and against Real Sociedad in a league match, helping Barcelona win the league title.
2015: Neymar scores against Arsenal
On March 16, 2016, Neymar scored against Arsenal in the Champions League, helping Barcelona advance. Barcelona was later knocked out by Atlético Madrid. Neymar's 2015-16 season saw him get 5 assists in 9 Champions League games.
2015: Neymar scores four goals against Rayo Vallecano
On October 17, 2015, Neymar scored four goals in Barcelona's 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano. On November 8, he scored a stunning goal against Villarreal. On November 21, he scored one and assisted another in a win against Real Madrid. He scored twice against Real Sociedad on November 28. Several media outlets praised Neymar as elevating to the same level of Messi and Ronaldo and being shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, where he came in third place.
March 2016: Neymar scores against Arsenal
On March 16, 2016, Neymar scored against Arsenal in the Champions League, helping Barcelona advance. Barcelona was later knocked out by Atlético Madrid. Neymar's 2015-16 season saw him get 5 assists in 9 Champions League games.
May 2016: Neymar scores in Copa del Rey Final
On May 22, 2016, Neymar scored in Barcelona's Copa del Rey Final win over Sevilla, securing the domestic double. The attacking trio of Messi, Suárez, and Neymar finished the season with 131 goals, breaking their previous record. Neymar reached over 30 goals for the second consecutive season, scoring 31 and getting 25 assists.
June 2016: Neymar wears Air Jordan-branded boots
In June 2016, Neymar became the first footballer to wear Air Jordan-branded boots—a custom Air Jordan V Hypervenom.
June 2016: Selected for 2016 Summer Olympics
In June 2016, Neymar was selected as one of the over-23 players for Brazil's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, which were held in Brazil. He was also named the team's captain.
July 2016: Contract renewal with Barcelona
In July 2016, Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona extending until 2021. The contract included a buy-out clause initially set at €200 million, increasing to €222m in the second year and €250m thereafter.
October 2016: Goal against Man City
In October 2016, Neymar scored his last goal of the year during the Champions League group stage fixture against Man City, a 4-0 win on October 19, 2016.
2016: Neymar ranked fourth most famous athlete by ESPN
In 2016, Neymar was ranked the fourth most famous athlete in the world by ESPN.
February 2017: Champions League First Leg loss against PSG
In February 2017, Barcelona suffered a 4-0 loss to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on February 14, 2017, a match that preceded the historic comeback known as 'La Remontada'.
March 2017: Key role in La Remontada
In March 2017, Neymar played a crucial role in Barcelona's 6-1 victory over PSG in the Champions League round of 16, widely known as La Remontada. He scored a free-kick and a penalty, and also provided the assist for Sergi Roberto's winning goal, being named man of the match on March 8, 2017.
April 2017: Neymar included in Time 100
In April 2017, Neymar was included in the Time 100, Time magazine's list of the most influential people in the world.
June 2017: Desire to leave Barcelona revealed
In June 2017, Neymar informed his Barcelona teammates of his desire to leave the club at Messi's wedding. This decision initiated speculation about his potential move to PSG.
August 2017: Lawsuit filed by Barcelona
In August 2017, Barcelona filed a lawsuit against Neymar, demanding the return of his contract renewal bonus and €8.5 million in damages plus an additional 10% for arrears on August 27, 2017.
August 2017: PSG Debut and Immediate Impact
In August 2017, Neymar debuted for PSG, scoring a goal and assisting another in a 3-0 victory against Guingamp on August 13. He added two more goals and two assists in a 6-2 victory against Toulouse on August 20, 2017.
August 2017: Record transfer to PSG
In August 2017, Neymar's representatives paid Barcelona €222 million, the amount of his release clause, making it the most expensive transfer in football history. La Liga rejected the payment initially due to concerns over PSG's compliance with Financial Fair Play rules on August 3, 2017.
2017: Arrival to PSG
In 2017, Neymar arrived at PSG. Prior to his arrival, the club had not progressed beyond the quarter final stage of the Champions League since 1994–95.
2017: Scoring milestones and Copa del Rey win
In 2017, Neymar surpassed Ronaldinho's goal tally for Barcelona, scoring his 95th goal in 169 matches on February 11. He also scored his 100th goal for Barcelona on April 2, and secured his first away hat-trick on May 15. On May 27, Neymar scored in the Copa del Rey Final as Barcelona defeated Alavés 3-1.
January 2018: Four goals and two assists vs Dijon
In January 2018, Neymar delivered a standout performance, scoring four goals and providing two assists in an 8-0 victory against Dijon on January 17. He became only the second player to receive a 10 rating from L'Equipe for a league match.
June 2018: International comeback and goal against Costa Rica
In June 2018, Neymar made his international comeback after a foot injury, scoring a goal in a friendly against Croatia. Later, he scored against Costa Rica in the World Cup, becoming Brazil's third-highest goalscorer.
June 2018: Neymar's contract with Barcelona
On May 24, 2013, Santos announced they received two offers for Neymar. On May 25, 2013, Neymar announced he would sign with Barcelona on May 27, planning to join after the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Details of the transfer fee and personal terms were not released, but he signed a five-year deal. On June 3, Neymar was unveiled by Barcelona after passing medical tests and signing a contract that would keep him at the club through June 2018.
August 2018: PSG's Opening League Goal and Subsequent Wins
In August 2018, Neymar scored PSG's opening league goal of the 2018-19 season in a 3–0 win over Caen. He then scored from a penalty in a 3–1 victory against Guingamp in Ligue 1. Later in August 2018, Neymar, Mbappé, and Cavani each scored in a 3–1 win over Angers.
2018: Neymar influential in PSG’s partnership with Air Jordan
In 2018, Neymar was highly influential to PSG’s groundbreaking partnership with Air Jordan.
May 2019: Included in Brazil's squad for the 2019 Copa América
In May 2019, Neymar was initially selected for Brazil's squad for the 2019 Copa América, but he later suffered an ankle injury in a friendly against Qatar, which ruled him out of the tournament.
August 2019: Negotiations to Move to Barcelona
In August 2019, Neymar was prepared to pay €20m of his own money to facilitate a move to Barcelona. On August 27, 2019, Barcelona and PSG met to discuss Neymar's situation, but PSG rejected Barcelona's written offer. On August 30, 2019, Neymar's offer to PSG was dismissed due to French football federation regulations, and he agreed to stay at PSG.
2019: Neymar ranked third highest-paid athlete by Forbes
In 2019, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's third-highest-paid athlete with earnings of $105 million for the year.
2019: Neymar appears in The Making Of series
In 2019, Neymar appeared in DAZN's The Making Of series, recounting his performance for Santos against Flamengo in 2011 when he scored that year's FIFA Puskás Award. Also in 2019, the film Neymar and the Line of King which covers Neymar's journey in becoming one of Brazil's top players was released.
2019: Neymar ranked fourth most famous athlete by ESPN again
In 2019, Neymar was again ranked the world's fourth most famous athlete by ESPN.
2019: Return to PSG and Scoring Game-Winning Goals
In 2019, after transfer speculation, Neymar returned to play for PSG. On September 14, 2019, he scored a bicycle kick to win 1-0 against Strasbourg, and on September 21, 2019, he scored a late winner in a 1-0 victory against Lyon. In October 2019, he suffered a hamstring injury. On November 26, 2019, he returned to play against Real Madrid.
July 2020: Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue Victories
In July 2020, Neymar scored in PSG's 1–0 win over Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France Final, winning his second title. On July 31, 2020, PSG won the Coupe de la Ligue Final against Lyon, completing a domestic treble. Neymar netted one of the penalties in the shoot-out.
August 2020: Neymar's contract with Nike ends
In August 2020, Neymar's 11-year contract with Nike ended after a Nike employee made a sexual assault complaint against him, leading him to sign with Puma and adopt the PUMA King boots.
October 2020: Hat-trick against Peru and surpasses Ronaldo
In October 2020, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a World Cup qualifier against Peru, surpassing Ronaldo as Brazil's second-highest goalscorer of all time with 64 international goals.
2020: Neymar ranked fourth highest-paid athlete by Forbes
In 2020, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's fourth highest-paid athlete with earnings of $95.5 million.
2020: COVID-19 Positive Test and Ligue 1 Goal Record
In 2020, Neymar tested positive for COVID-19, causing him to miss the first match of the season. On October 2, 2020, he scored his first two goals of the season against Angers, entering the top ten goalscorers in PSG history. On November 28, 2020, he scored his 50th goal in Ligue 1, becoming the fastest player to reach this milestone.
2020: Champions League Final with PSG
In 2020, Neymar was instrumental in leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League final.
2020: UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award Nomination
In 2020, Neymar was nominated for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, finishing fourth, and was ranked third for the UEFA Forward of the Season. Some journalists debated whether Neymar outshone Lewandowski as the best player of 2020. By the end of his third season with PSG, he had 70 goals and 45 assists in 85 matches.
January 2021: Trophée des Champions Victory and Adductor Injury
On January 13, 2021, Neymar scored the winning goal from a penalty in a 2–1 win over Marseille in the Trophée des Champions. On February 10, 2021, he sustained a left adductor injury in a cup win over Caen, ruling him out for four weeks.
August 2021: Messi signs for PSG
On August 10, 2021, Neymar's former Barcelona teammate Messi signed for PSG. On August 29, 2021, Neymar made his first appearance of the season, being a starter in a 2–0 win over Reims.
December 2021: Neymar signs deal with Facebook Gaming
In December 2021, Neymar signed a deal with Facebook Gaming.
2021: Neymar ranked fourth highest-paid athlete by Forbes
In 2021, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's fourth highest-paid athlete with earnings of $95 million.
October 2022: Stand-out Player in Europe
By early October 2022, Neymar was considered a stand-out player in Europe. Manager Christophe Galtier praised Neymar for playing his best ever football in PSG.
November 2022: Named in Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup
In November 2022, Neymar was selected for Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup. Entering the tournament, he was in excellent form, and Brazil was considered a favorite to win. Neymar was also seen as a contender for the Golden Ball award.
2022: Neymar appears in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
In 2022, Neymar appeared as a playable operator in the first-person shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.
2022: Neymar ranked fourth highest-paid athlete by Sportico
In 2022, Sportico named Neymar the fourth highest-paid athlete.
2022: Neymar documentary series released on Netflix
In 2022, a Netflix documentary series titled Neymar: The Perfect Chaos was released.
March 2023: Neymar to undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season
In March 2023, PSG announced that Neymar would undergo surgery in Doha, ruling him out for the rest of the season and causing him to miss the Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Following reports of Messi's departure, PSG supporters protested against the club and insulted figures, including Neymar. Some individuals also went to Neymar's house demanding his departure.
August 2023: Neymar completes transfer to Al Hilal
On 15 August 2023, Neymar transferred to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal on a two-year contract for €90 million, becoming the most expensive purchase in the league. He was reportedly being paid €150m a year, six times his PSG salary. Barcelona was the only European club that showed interest, but other clubs turned away due to his high salary and transfer fee.
September 2023: Neymar makes debut for Al Hilal
On 15 September 2023, Neymar debuted for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, assisting a goal in a 6–1 victory against Al-Riyadh after coming off the bench.
October 2023: Neymar scores first goal for Al Hilal and suffers ACL injury
In October 2023, Neymar scored his first goal for Al Hilal in a 3–0 win against Nassaji Mazandaran in the AFC Champions League. Later that month, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.
2023: Neymar ranked twelfth highest-paid athlete by Forbes
In 2023, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's twelfth highest-paid athlete with earnings of $85 million.
2023: Prince who never became King
In 2023, after Neymar moved to Saudi Arabia without winning the Ballon d'Or, he was dubbed the 'Prince who never became King' by various media outlets.
January 2024: Al Hilal deregisters Neymar
In January 2024, Al Hilal deregistered Neymar due to his season-ending ACL injury, freeing up a foreign roster spot for Renan Lodi. Despite playing only three league games, Neymar won his eighth career league title as Al Hilal secured the league title.
June 2024: Neymar Jr. appointed brand ambassador for Blaze
In June 2024, Neymar Jr. was appointed brand ambassador for Blaze's exclusive "crash" online gaming product.
October 2024: Neymar returns to action, suffers hamstring injury and receives Player Career Award
On 21 October 2024, Neymar returned to the field for Al Hilal in an AFC Champions League match against Al Ain, marking his comeback after a lengthy absence. However, a few weeks later, he suffered a hamstring injury, sidelining him for the rest of the year. At the end of 2024, Neymar was named one of the winners of the Player Career Award at the Globe Soccer Awards.
2024: Neymar ranked seventh highest-paid athlete by Forbes
In 2024, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's seventh highest-paid athlete with earnings of $108 million.
January 2025: Neymar considers playing in Brazil again and is not registered for league competition
In January 2025, Neymar expressed his desire to play for Flamengo or Santos in Brazil. Later that month, he was not registered for the league competition during the second half of the 2024–25 season. Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus stated that Neymar can no longer perform at the expected level.
January 2025: Return to Santos
In January 2025, Neymar returned to Santos.
January 2025: Neymar announces return to Santos
On 30 January 2025, Neymar announced his return to his first club, Santos, through social media. The following day, Santos confirmed his return. One reason was to regain top form for the 2026 World Cup.
March 2025: Named in preliminary squad for the national team.
In March 2025, Neymar was included in the 29-man preliminary squad for the national team.
2025: Neymar ranked 25th highest-paid athlete by Forbes
In 2025, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's 25th highest-paid athlete with earnings of $76 million.
2025: Neymar responds to criticism about his career
In a 2025 interview, Neymar addressed claims that he didn't reach expected heights, citing injuries while expressing satisfaction with his achievements.
2025: Contract Extension with PSG
On May 8, 2021, Neymar extended his contract with PSG until 2025, expressing his desire to win the Champions League with the club.
January 2026: Neymar extends contract with Santos
On 6 January 2026, Neymar extended his contract with Santos until the end of the year.
2026: Neymar participation in the World Cup qualification.
In September 2023, Neymar participated in the opening match for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
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