Career Timeline of Neymar: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Neymar built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Neymar Jr., a Brazilian professional footballer, is renowned for his exceptional dribbling, technical skills, playmaking, and finishing. Widely considered one of the greatest players ever, he currently captains Santos and plays for the Brazil national team. Neymar is among the elite few to have scored 100 goals for three different clubs. He is the all-time Brazilian top goalscorer and assist provider in the UEFA Champions League. Moreover, he ranks second among South American men's top goalscorers in international football. With over 400 senior career goals and 250 assists, Neymar's impact on the sport is undeniable.
March 2009: Professional Debut
In March 2009, specifically on March 7, Neymar made his professional debut for Santos, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 win against Oeste.
2009: Professional Debut with Santos
In 2009, Neymar made his professional debut with Santos, marking the beginning of his senior career in football.
May 2010: Copa do Brasil Victory
In May 2010, Neymar scored a goal in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals victory over Atletico-MG. He also scored in the first leg of the finals against Vitória, contributing to Santos winning the Copa do Brasil for the first time and finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals.
July 2010: Neymar selected for Brazil senior team
In July 2010, Neymar was selected for the first time in the Brazil senior team by new head coach Mano Menezes for a friendly match against the United States.
August 2010: Neymar debuts and scores for Brazil
On 10 August 2010, at the age of 18, Neymar made his debut for the Brazil national team in a friendly match against the United States, scoring his first international goal.
November 2010: Sale of Future Transfer Fees Share
In November 2010, Santos sold a 5% share of Neymar's future transfer fees to Terceira Estrela Investimentos S.A. (TEISA) for R$ 3,549,900 (€1.5 million), indicating the financial interest and value associated with the player.
2010: Continued Development and Campeonato Paulista Win
In 2010, Neymar continued his rapid development, scoring five goals in a match against Guarani. He also won the Campeonato Paulista, scoring 14 goals in the tournament, and was named the best player.
2010: Premier League Bids Rejected
In 2010, Santos rejected a £12 million bid for Neymar from West Ham United and a later offer from Chelsea, reported to be around £20 million, showcasing the high demand for the player.
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.
March 2011: Neymar scores twice against Scotland; racism controversy
On 27 March 2011, Neymar scored twice in a 2–0 win against Scotland. After a banana was thrown onto the pitch, Neymar complained about 'constant jeering and an atmosphere of racism', which led to controversy and a request for an apology from the Scottish Football Association, which he refused to give.
July 2011: First Goals of Campeonato Brasileiro
In July 2011, Neymar scored his first goals of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro, with his first goal winning the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award.
September 2011: Real Madrid Interest
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, including the winning goal in the Campeonato Paulista finals against Corinthians, helping Santos win back-to-back state titles. He also scored six goals during Santos' run to win the 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals, the first since 1963.
2011: Neymar shines at South American Youth Championship and Copa América
In 2011, Neymar was the leading goalscorer of the South American Youth Championship with nine goals, including two in the final. He also scored two goals in the Copa América against Ecuador.
2011: Copa Libertadores Win
In 2011, Neymar won the Copa Libertadores with Santos, scoring in the finals and contributing to a significant achievement for the club.
2011: Neymar recounts performance for Santos against Flamengo
In 2019, Neymar recounted his performance for Santos against Flamengo in 2011 when he scored that year's FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year, in a collaboration with DAZN.
February 2012: 100th Career Goal
In February 2012, specifically on February 5 when he turned 20, Neymar scored his 100th goal as a professional football player in a match against Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista.
April 2012: Hat-Trick Against São Paulo
In April 2012, specifically on April 29, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a match against São Paulo, which ended 3–1.
May 2012: Neymar selected for Brazil Olympic squad
In May 2012, Neymar was selected for the Brazil Olympic football team to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
July 2012: Neymar participates in warm-up match and scores against Egypt
In July 2012, during Brazil's warm-up match against Great Britain, Neymar contributed to both goals in a 2–0 win. On 26 July, he scored his first goal in the opening fixture against Egypt.
August 2012: Neymar scores brace against Palmeiras
In August 2012, Neymar scored two goals in a 2–1 away win against Palmeiras.
2012: Olympic Silver Medal
In 2012, Neymar helped Brazil reach the final at the Summer Olympics in men's football, where they received the Olympic silver medal.
2012: Campeonato Paulista Win and Copa Libertadores Performance
In 2012, Neymar scored twice in both legs of the Campeonato Paulista Finals against Guarani, winning the championship with Santos. He was also the joint top scorer in the Copa Libertadores, where Santos was eventually beaten by Corinthians.
2012: Pelé claims Neymar is the best; other players comment
In 2012, Pelé stated that Neymar was the best player, which Diego Maradona countered by suggesting Messi was on another level. Neymar himself acknowledged Messi's superiority and inspiration. Ronaldo praised Neymar's talent, while Zico compared him to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.
January 2013: Neymar scores twice against São Bernardo
In January 2013, Neymar began the 2013 Campeonato Paulista season by scoring twice in a 3–1 win against São Bernardo.
February 2013: Neymar on cover of Time magazine, talks about future
In February 2013, Neymar appeared on the cover of Time magazine, labeled as 'The Next Pelé'. He expressed his dream of playing in Europe for a big club and stated he would leave Santos when he wanted to.
May 2013: Neymar named most marketable athlete
On 8 May 2013, SportsPro magazine named Neymar the most marketable athlete in the world, ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. The same month, Neymar launched the Nike Hypervenom football boot.
July 2013: Neymar debuts for Barcelona in pre-season friendly
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 Champions League and La Liga goals for Barcelona
In 2013, Neymar debuted in the UEFA Champions League, assisting a goal against Ajax. He scored his first La Liga goal against Real Sociedad. He played his first El Clásico, scoring and assisting against Real Madrid. On December 11, 2013, Neymar scored his first Champions League hat-trick against Celtic.
2013: Golden Ball for player of the tournament
In 2013, Neymar received the Golden Ball for player of the tournament and finished in 5th place for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or, marking a significant achievement in his career.
2013: Move to Barcelona
In 2013, Neymar signed with Barcelona, joining Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez to form a dominant attacking trio.
2013: Neymar in Brazil squad for Confederations Cup
In 2013, Neymar was selected for Brazil's squad for the Confederations Cup and was assigned the number 10 shirt.
2013: Neymar scores four goals against União Barbarense
On April 13, 2013, Neymar scored four goals in a match against União Barbarense in the Paulista League. Neymar played his last game for Santos on May 26, 2013.
March 2014: Neymar scored a hat-trick in a friendly win against South Africa
In March 2014, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a friendly win against South Africa in Johannesburg. After the final whistle, Neymar intervened when a South African boy ran onto the pitch and introduced him to his Brazil teammates.
September 2014: Neymar scores first goals of the season
In September 2014, Neymar scored his first two goals of the 2014–15 season, helping Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2–0. He later scored a hat-trick against Granada.
November 2014: Neymar appears in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign
In November 2014, Neymar appeared in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign with other top football players to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it.
2014: Contract Extension
In 2014, Neymar and Santos agreed to a contract extension that would see the player stay with the club until after the 2014 World Cup.
2014: Named in Brazil squad for the 2014 World Cup
In 2014, Neymar was named in the Brazil squad for the 2014 World Cup. As the team's star player, he was expected to lead Brazil to their sixth World Cup success.
2014: Treble Win with Barcelona
In 2014, Neymar won the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League with Barcelona. He was the top goalscorer in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey that season.
2014: Neymar's intended move to Europe
In April 2013, Neymar's agent announced his intention to move to Europe before the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
2014: Neymar's performances during the 2014-15 campaign
Neymar had 5 assists during 2015-16 season, but during 2014-15 he had less goals.
January 2015: Neymar scores twice against Elche
In January 2015, Neymar scored twice and assisted two more goals in a 6-0 win against Elche. He also scored his 20th goal of the season in a 3-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final win over Atlético Madrid.
2015: Neymar's performance and Ballon d'Or nomination
In 2015, Neymar achieved a high level of performance, scoring multiple goals in various matches, including four against Rayo Vallecano and a notable goal against Villarreal. He was praised as one of the best players in the world and was shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
2015: Neymar shines in Messi's absence
In 2015, Neymar missed the UEFA Super Cup and Supercopa de España due to having the mumps. When Messi suffered a knee injury in September 2015, Neymar experienced a peak in his career, being praised as the best player in the world. He scored 13 goals and provided 9 assists in 8 games.
2015: Neymar's goals in Copa del Rey and Champions League
In 2015, Neymar scored twice in Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final win over Villarreal, qualifying the club for the final. He scored twice against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final. He scored against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final and against Real Sociedad in La Liga.
2015: Neymar's performances during the 2014-15 campaign
Neymar had 5 assists during 2015-16 season, but during 2014-15 he had less goals.
March 2016: Neymar scores against Arsenal in Champions League
In March 2016, Neymar scored against Arsenal in the Champions League, helping Barcelona advance. Neymar's Barcelona was knocked out in the quarter-final to Atlético Madrid.
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, celebrating a domestic double. The attacking trio of Messi, Suárez, and Neymar broke their previous record for most goals in a season. Neymar reached over 30 goals for the second consecutive season, scoring 31.
June 2016: Neymar wears Air Jordan branded boots
In June 2016, Neymar became the first footballer ever to wear Air Jordan-branded boots - a custom Air Jordan V Hypervenom.
June 2016: Included in Brazil's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics
In June 2016, Neymar was included as one of the three over-23 players in Brazil's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics on home soil and was named the team's captain.
July 2016: Neymar signs new contract with Barcelona
In July 2016, Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona extending until 2021, which included a €200 million buy-out clause, rising to €222m and €250m in subsequent years. He expressed his happiness to continue with Barcelona.
September 2016: Goal and four assists against Celtic
On 13 September 2016, Neymar made a significant contribution to Barcelona's 7-0 victory over Celtic in the Champions League group stage by registering one goal and providing four assists. On 17 September 2016, he also scored his first goal of the 2016-17 La Liga season against Leganés.
October 2016: Last goal of 2016 against Man City
On 19 October 2016, Neymar scored his last goal of 2016 in the Champions League group stage fixture against Manchester City, contributing to a 4-0 win. This marked a less prolific year for him compared to the previous year.
2016: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2016, Neymar captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men's football at the Summer Olympics.
March 2017: Heroic role in La Remontada
On 8 March 2017, Neymar played a crucial role in Barcelona's historic 6-1 victory against PSG in the Champions League round of 16, known as 'La Remontada'. With Barcelona trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the 88th minute, Neymar scored a free-kick and a penalty, and provided the assist for Sergi Roberto's winning goal in the 95th minute. Neymar was named man of the match and broke the record for most assists in a Champions League campaign.
June 2017: Neymar informs teammates of desire to leave Barcelona
In June 2017, Neymar reportedly informed his Barcelona teammates of his desire to leave the club at Lionel Messi's wedding. This event marked the beginning of media speculation about his potential move to PSG.
August 2017: Neymar's debut for PSG
On 13 August 2017, Neymar debuted for PSG, scoring a goal and assisting another in a 3-0 victory over Guingamp, a match broadcast in 183 countries. On 20 August, he added two more goals and two assists in a 6-2 victory against Toulouse. NBA star Stephen Curry commented on Neymar's exceptional skills.
August 2017: Barcelona files lawsuit against Neymar
On 27 August 2017, Barcelona filed a lawsuit against Neymar demanding the return of his contract renewal bonus and €8.5 million in damages. The club requested PSG to take on the payment responsibility if Neymar couldn't pay. Neymar's lawyers contested the case.
2017: 100th Goal for Barcelona
In 2017, Neymar had multiple milestones including surpassing Ronaldinho's goal tally with Barcelona on 11 February, scoring his 95th goal in 169 matches. On 2 April, Neymar scored his 100th goal for Barcelona, achieving it in 177 appearances during a 4-1 win over Granada. On 15 May, he also scored his first away hat-trick for Barcelona in a 4-1 victory against Las Palmas. On 27 May, Neymar scored in the 2017 Copa del Rey Final, his 105th goal for the club, in Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Alavés.
2017: Penalty dispute and Champions League group stage success
In September 2017, a penalty dispute arose between Neymar and Edinson Cavani during a match against Lyon. Later, on 22 October, Neymar scored against Marseille but was sent off. In the Champions League group stage, Neymar contributed significantly to PSG's victories, scoring in both opening games.
January 2018: Four goals against Dijon
On 17 January 2018, Neymar displayed one of his greatest career performances, scoring four goals and assisting two in an 8–0 thrashing of Dijon in the league. On 14 February, against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Neymar assisted Adrien Rabiot's opening goal, but PSG lost 3–1.
June 2018: International comeback and goal scoring
In June 2018, Neymar made his international comeback, scoring a goal in a 2–0 win over Croatia in a friendly match at Anfield. Later that week, he became Brazil's joint-third highest goalscorer.
June 2018: Neymar's contract with Barcelona
On June 3, Neymar was unveiled by Barcelona after signing a contract that would keep him at the club through June 2018.
August 2018: Neymar scores opening league goal and contributes to wins
In August 2018, Neymar played a pivotal role for PSG. On August 12th, he scored the opening league goal in a 3–0 victory against Caen. He then scored from a penalty in a 3–1 win against Guingamp. On August 25th, Neymar, Mbappé, and Cavani each scored in a 3–1 win over Angers, with Neymar scoring off Mbappé's assist and setting up Cavani's goal.
2018: Neymar Influences PSG’s Partnership with Air Jordan
In 2018, Neymar was highly influential to PSG’s groundbreaking partnership with Air Jordan, setting the stage for the 2018 PSG × Air Jordan launch.
May 2019: Included in Brazil's squad for the 2019 Copa América
In May 2019, Neymar was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América on home soil, but suffered an ankle injury in June.
August 2019: Neymar transfer negotiations with Barcelona and Real Madrid
In August 2019, Neymar's potential move back to Barcelona was a hot topic. He was prepared to pay €20m to facilitate the transfer. On August 27th, Barcelona and PSG met, but PSG rejected Barcelona's offer. On August 30th, Neymar made an offer to PSG which was dismissed, leading him to stay at PSG. Real Madrid also showed interest in signing Neymar throughout the transfer window of August 2019.
August 2020: Nike contract ends after sexual assault complaint
In August 2020, Neymar's 11-year contract with Nike ended after a Nike employee made a sexual assault complaint against him, after which he signed with Puma.
October 2020: Hat-trick and surpassed Ronaldo
In October 2020, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru. He surpassed Ronaldo as the nation's second highest goalscorer of all time.
2020: Champions League Final with PSG
In 2020, Neymar played an instrumental role in leading Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever Champions League final.
January 2021: Neymar scores winning goal in Trophée des Champions
In January 2021, Neymar scored the winning goal from a penalty in a 2–1 victory over Marseille in the Trophée des Champions on January 13th. He later sustained a left adductor injury in a cup win over Caen on February 10th, ruling him out for four weeks.
June 2021: Scored and assisted in Copa América
In June 2021, during Brazil's opening group match of the 2021 Copa América, Neymar scored a goal from the penalty spot and assisted another. He played a key role throughout the competition, assisting goals in multiple matches.
August 2021: Messi joins PSG and Neymar makes season debut
In August 2021, Lionel Messi signed for PSG, joining his former Barcelona teammate Neymar. On August 29th, Neymar started in a 2–0 win over Reims, marking his first appearance of the season. During the same match, Messi replaced Neymar in the 66th minute, making his debut for PSG on August 29th.
December 2021: Neymar signs deal with Facebook Gaming
In December 2021, Neymar signed a deal with Facebook Gaming.
February 2022: Neymar returns from injury and scores against Nantes
In February 2022, Neymar returned from an ankle injury on February 15th in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, assisting Mbappé's winning goal. On February 19th, he made his first league start of 2022 against Nantes, scoring a goal but missing a penalty in a 3–1 loss.
November 2022: Named in Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup
In November 2022, Neymar was named in the Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup, heading into the tournament in top form and considered a key player for Brazil's chances of winning.
2022: End of contract
In 2022, Neymar's contract with PSG would run out, earning roughly €30 million a year, which doubled his Barcelona salary and made him the second-highest paid player in the world.
March 2023: Neymar to undergo surgery
In March 2023, PSG announced that Neymar would undergo surgery in Doha, ruling him out for the remainder of the season, causing him to miss PSG's Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
August 2023: Neymar transfers to Al Hilal
On 15 August 2023, Neymar completed his transfer to Al Hilal of the Saudi Pro League on a two-year contract for €90 million, becoming the league's most expensive purchase. He was reportedly being paid €150m a year.
September 2023: Neymar debuts for Al Hilal
On 15 September 2023, Neymar debuted for Al Hilal in a 6–1 win against Al-Riyadh, providing an assist to Malcom.
October 2023: Neymar scores first goal and ruptures ACL
In October 2023, Neymar scored his first goal for Al Hilal in a 3–0 win against Nassaji Mazandaran. Later that month, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.
2023: Joins Al-Hilal
In 2023, Neymar joined Saudi club Al-Hilal, marking a new chapter in his club career.
2023: Neymar dubbed 'Prince who never became King'
In 2023, after Neymar's move from Europe to Saudi Arabia without a Ballon d'Or win at age 31, media outlets labeled him the 'Prince who never became King'.
January 2024: Al Hilal deregisters Neymar
In January 2024, Al Hilal deregistered Neymar due to his season-ending injury to free up a foreign roster spot.
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, promoting the sports betting platform's new multiplier‐based wager.
October 2024: Neymar returns to action and receives Player Career Award
In October 2024, Neymar returned to action for Al Hilal and also suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. At the end of 2024, Neymar was named as one of the three winners of the Player Career Award at the Globe Soccer Awards.
January 2025: Neymar considers playing in Brazil and contract termination
In January 2025, Neymar expressed interest in playing for Flamengo or Santos in Brazil. Later that month, he was not registered for the league competition by Al Hilal and on 27 January 2025, his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
January 2025: Return to Santos
In January 2025, Neymar returned to Santos, the club where he started his professional career.
January 2025: Neymar announces signing with Santos
On 30 January 2025, Neymar announced he would be signing with Santos, his first club. Santos confirmed his return the following day.
March 2025: Named in preliminary squad for the national team
On 2 March 2025, Neymar was named in the 29 men in the preliminary squad for the national team.
2025: Neymar reveals the reason for leaving Barcelona
In 2025, Neymar further revealed that he left Barcelona because of the opportunity to play with his fellow Brazilian teammates Thiago Silva, Dani Alves, Marquinhos, and Lucas Moura, as well as the financially better contract.
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