Career Timeline of Neymar: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Neymar built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar, is a highly acclaimed Brazilian professional footballer. He excels as a left winger, attacking midfielder, and forward, currently playing for Santos and captaining the Brazil national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players, Neymar is celebrated for his speed, dribbling skills, technical ability, playmaking, and finishing. A significant influence on emerging footballers, he holds the record for Brazil's all-time top goalscorer and is the joint all-time top assist provider in international football, having scored over 400 goals and provided over 300 assists.
2006: Kaka tops the competition's scoring list
On June 6, 2015, Neymar scored the third goal for Barça in the 3–1 Champions League Final defeat of Italian champions Juventus. He was the first player apart from Messi and Ronaldo to top the competition's scoring list, since compatriot Kaká in 2006–07.
March 2009: Professional Debut
On 7 March 2009, 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 Football Club.
May 2010: Copa do Brasil Quarterfinals
On 5 May 2010, Neymar scored a goal in the 3-1 Copa do Brasil quarterfinals victory over Atletico-MG. He also scored in the first leg of the finals against Vitória. Santos won the Copa do Brasil, and Neymar finished as the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals.
July 2010: Neymar selected for Brazil senior team
On July 26, 2010, Neymar was selected for the first time in the Brazil senior team by coach Mano Menezes for a friendly match against the United States.
August 2010: Neymar debuts and scores for Brazil
On August 10, 2010, Neymar made his debut for the Brazil national team in a friendly against the United States, starting the match and scoring a header in a 2–0 win.
2010: Pelé and Romário urge Dunga to take Neymar to the 2010 World Cup
Following Neymar's performances for Santos in their successful early 2010 season, including winning the 2010 Copa do Brasil, and the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, Pelé and Romário urged coach Dunga to take Neymar to the 2010 World Cup. Despite public pressure, Neymar was omitted from the squad.
2010: Continued Development and Campeonato Paulista Win
In 2010, Neymar continued his development, scoring five goals in a match against Guarani. He also scored 14 goals in 19 games in the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, leading Santos to become champions, and was named the best player in the competition.
2010: Interest from European Clubs
In the summer of 2010, Santos rejected bids from West Ham United and Chelsea for Neymar.
March 2011: Signed Nike and Panasonic Sponsorships
In March 2011, Neymar signed an 11-year contract with Nike, an American sportswear company. Also in March 2011, Panasonic paid US$2.4 million to secure Neymar's services for two years.
March 2011: Neymar scores twice against Scotland, alleges racism
On March 27, 2011, Neymar scored twice in a 2–0 win against Scotland. After a banana was thrown on the pitch, Neymar complained about racism, leading to controversy and a request for apology from the Scottish Football Association, which Neymar refused.
July 2011: Campeonato Brasileiro Goals and Puskás Award
On 27 July 2011, Neymar scored his first goals of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro against Flamengo. His first goal, a solo dribble, later won the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award.
September 2011: Real Madrid Interest and Contract Extension
In September 2011, Santos threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA for attempting to sign Neymar, and denied a pre-contract agreement was in place. Neymar later agreed to a contract extension with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup.
2011: Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores Success
During the 2011 season, Neymar scored crucial goals in the Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores, helping Santos clinch back-to-back state titles and win their first Copa Libertadores since 1963. He was named Man of the Match in the Copa Libertadores final.
2011: Copa Libertadores Win
In 2011, Neymar helped Santos win the Copa Libertadores and reach the FIFA Club World Cup final.
2011: FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year
In 2011, 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 the documentary series The Making Of.
2011: Neymar shines in South American Youth Championship and Copa América
In 2011, Neymar was the leading goal scorer of the South American Youth Championship with nine goals. He also participated in the 2011 Copa América, scoring two goals against Ecuador. He was named 'Man of the Match' against Venezuela.
2011: Copa América Debut
In 2011, at his first major international tournament, the Copa América, Neymar debuted for Brazil and scored twice.
February 2012: Scored 100th goal
In February 2012, Neymar, at 20 years old, scored his 100th goal as a professional football player against Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista.
April 2012: Scored a Hat-Trick against São Paulo
In April 2012, Neymar scored a hat-trick in the fixture against São Paulo, with the match ending 3–1.
May 2012: Neymar selected for Brazil Olympic football team
In May 2012, Neymar was selected for the Brazil Olympic football team to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
July 2012: Neymar involved in both goals against Great Britain, scores against Egypt
On July 20, 2012, Neymar assisted and scored in a 2–0 win against Great Britain. On July 26, he scored in Brazil's opening fixture against Egypt, which Brazil won 3-2.
August 2012: Scored twice against Palmeiras
On August 25, 2012, Neymar scored a brace in the 2–1 away win against Palmeiras.
November 2012: Personal Brand Logo Creation
In November 2012, advertising agency Loducca created Neymar's own personal brand logo, featuring the N, J, and R (Neymar Junior) with the N styled to match Neymar's shirt number 11.
2012: Cameo Appearance in Music Video
In 2012, Neymar made cameo appearances in the music video for the sertanejo hit "Eu Quero Tchu, Eu Quero Tcha" by João Lucas & Marcelo.
2012: Olympic Silver Medal
In 2012, Neymar won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics.
2012: Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 Cover
Neymar was featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 on the North American version, after Konami Digital Entertainment announced that he had joined Pro Evolution Soccer.
January 2013: Scored twice in Campeonato Paulista
On January 19, 2013, Neymar started the 2013 Campeonato Paulista scoring twice in the first match, which ended a 3–1 win over São Bernardo.
April 2013: 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: Most Marketable Athlete 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: Most Marketable Athlete and Launch of Nike Hypervenom
In May 2013, SportsPro magazine named Neymar the most marketable athlete in the world. During the same month, Neymar launched the Nike Hypervenom football boot.
July 2013: Unofficial debut for Barcelona
On July 30, 2013, Neymar made his unofficial debut for Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against Lechia Gdańsk.
2013: Appearance on Rap Music Video
In 2013, Neymar appeared on a rap music video, "País do Futebol" by MC Guimê.
2013: Champions League debut and first El Clásico appearance
In 2013, Neymar made his UEFA Champions League debut, scored his first goal in La Liga, and made his first El Clásico appearance, scoring the opening goal and assisting the team's winning goal.
2013: Neymar selected for 2013 Confederations Cup
In 2013, Neymar was selected for Brazil's squad for the 2013 Confederations Cup and was assigned the number 10 shirt.
2013: Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 Cover
Neymar was featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 on the North American version.
2013: Santos last match
On May 26, 2013, ahead of his last match for Santos against Flamengo in the first round of the 2013 Brazilian Championship, Neymar was in tears during the national anthem, with the match ending in a draw.
March 2014: Neymar scores hat-trick against South Africa
On March 5, 2014, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a friendly win against South Africa. After the match, he made headlines for his interaction with a young fan who ran onto the pitch.
June 2014: Vogue Brazil Cover
In June 2014, Neymar appeared with supermodel Gisele Bündchen on the front cover of Vogue's Brazilian edition.
September 2014: First goals of the 2014-15 season
In September 2014, Neymar scored his first two goals of the 2014–15 season against Athletic Bilbao and scored a hat-trick against Granada.
October 2014: Neymar becomes permanent Brazil captain, scores four goals against Japan
On October 14, 2014, Neymar scored four goals in a friendly win against Japan. He had scored 40 goals in 58 international matches, becoming the fifth highest goalscorer for Brazil. Earlier, on September 5, 2014, he was named captain of the Brazil team.
November 2014: FIFA's "11 against Ebola" Campaign
In November 2014, Neymar appeared in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign with a selection of top football players from around the world to raise awareness of the disease and ways to combat it.
2014: Starred in Beats Advert
In 2014 Neymar starred in an advert for Beats alongside other football stars such as Thierry Henry and Luis Suárez, with the theme of 'The Game Before The Game' and the players pre-game ritual of listening to music.
2014: Continental Treble
In 2014, Neymar was part of the Barcelona team that won the continental treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the UEFA Champions League.
2014: Intention to Leave for Europe Revealed
In April 2014, Neymar's agent and father revealed that Neymar intended to leave for Europe before the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
2014: Contract Extension
In September 2011, Neymar agreed to a contract extension with Santos until after the 2014 World Cup.
2014: Champions League performance
Neymar played in the 2014–15 and 2015-16 Champions League.
January 2015: Scored twice and assisted two goals against Elche
On January 24, 2015, Neymar scored twice and assisted two more goals in a 6–0 win at Elche. On January 28, he scored his 20th goal of the season.
March 2015: Social Media Ranking
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.
2015: Champions League performance
Neymar played in the 2014–15 and 2015-16 Champions League.
March 2016: Scored against Arsenal in Champions League
On March 16, 2016, Neymar scored against Arsenal in the second leg of the round of 16 fixture, helping Barcelona advance in the Champions League.
June 2016: Neymar selected for 2016 Summer Olympics
In late June 2016, Neymar was named in Brazil's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics and was named the team's captain.
September 2016: Goal and Four Assists against Celtic
On September 13, 2016, Neymar scored one goal and provided four assists in Barcelona's 7-0 Champions League group stage victory over Celtic. Furthermore, on September 17, 2016, he scored his first goal of the 2016-17 La Liga season in a 5-1 win against Leganés.
October 2016: Goal against Man City
In October 2016, Neymar scored his last goal of the year, in a Champions League group stage fixture against Man City on October 19, 2016. Barcelona won 4-0.
2016: ESPN's Most Famous Athlete Ranking
In 2016, ESPN ranked Neymar as the fourth most famous athlete in the world.
2016: Olympic Gold Medal
In 2016, Neymar captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men's football at the Summer Olympics.
2016: New Contract with Barcelona
In 2016, Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona, resulting in a renewal bonus, which later became the subject of a lawsuit when he left the club.
February 2017: Champions League First Leg Loss to PSG
On February 14, 2017, Barcelona suffered a significant 4-0 defeat to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
June 2017: Neymar informs teammates about his desire to leave Barcelona
In June 2017, Neymar reportedly told his Barcelona teammates, including Messi, of his intentions to leave the club during Messi's wedding.
July 2017: Media speculation about Neymar joining PSG
In July 2017, media speculation arose regarding Neymar's potential move to PSG, with the club reportedly holding talks with Barcelona officials.
August 2017: Debut for PSG
On August 13, 2017, Neymar debuted for PSG, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 3-0 victory against Guingamp. The match was broadcast in 183 countries. On August 20, he scored two goals and provided two assists in a 6-2 victory against Toulouse.
August 2017: Neymar asks to leave Barcelona
On August 2, 2017, Neymar formally requested that Barcelona allow him to leave the club, marking a pivotal moment in his transfer saga.
2017: Move to Paris Saint-Germain
In 2017, Neymar joined French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after his €222 million release clause was activated, making him the most expensive player in history. He took on the number 10 role.
June 2018: Barcelona contract duration
On June 3, 2013, Neymar was unveiled by Barcelona after signing a contract that would keep him at the club through June 2018.
June 2018: Neymar scores in comeback match, becomes joint-third highest goalscorer
On June 3, 2018, Neymar scored in a friendly win over Croatia after a three-month absence. The following week, he became Brazil's joint-third highest goalscorer with 55 international goals. On June 22, Neymar scored against Costa Rica in the World Cup.
August 2018: Scoring League Goals for PSG
In August 2018, Neymar scored PSG's opening league goal of the 2018-19 season on August 12th in a 3-0 win over Caen. He also scored from a penalty in a 3-1 win against Guingamp. On August 25th, he contributed a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Angers.
2018: 2018 World Cup Appearance
In 2018, Neymar appeared in the World Cup.
May 2019: Neymar included in Brazil's Copa América squad, suffers injury
In May 2019, Neymar was included in Brazil's squad for the 2019 Copa América. However, on June 5, he suffered an ankle injury and was ruled out of the tournament.
August 2019: Neymar's Failed Transfer to Barcelona
In August 2019, Neymar was willing to pay €20m to PSG to return to Barcelona. PSG rejected Barcelona's offer, and also dismissed Neymar's offer due to French football federation regulations. Real Madrid were also interested in signing Neymar, but he ultimately remained at PSG.
2019: ESPN's Most Famous Athlete Ranking
In 2019, ESPN again ranked Neymar the world's fourth most famous athlete.
2019: Forbes Ranking
In 2019, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's third-highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $105 million for the year.
2019: DAZN's The Making Of Series
In 2019, Neymar appeared in DAZN's The Making Of series and the film Neymar and the Line of King, documentaries which relives the significant games that helped define football's greatest modern icons.
July 2020: Coupe de France Title
On July 24, 2020, Neymar scored the only goal in PSG's 1-0 win over Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France Final, winning his second Coupe de France title. Then, on July 31, 2020, PSG won the 2020 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Lyon after penalties, completing a domestic treble with Neymar scoring one of the penalties.
August 2020: Nike contract termination
In August 2020, Neymar's 11-year contract with Nike ended after a Nike employee made a sexual assault complaint against him.
September 2020: Signs with Puma
In September 2020, Neymar ended his long-term partnership with Nike and signed a deal with Puma, a German sportswear company. He began wearing PUMA King boots, previously worn by famous players, stating his desire to bring back the legacy through King.
October 2020: Neymar scores hat-trick against Peru, surpasses Ronaldo
On October 13, 2020, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a World Cup qualifier against Peru, surpassing Ronaldo as Brazil's second highest goalscorer with 64 international goals.
2020: Forbes Ranking
In 2020, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete, earning $95.5 million.
January 2021: Trophée des Champions Victory
On January 13, 2021, Neymar scored the winning goal from a penalty in PSG's 2-1 victory over rivals Marseille in the Trophée des Champions. This added another title to his achievements with the club.
June 2021: Neymar scores and assists in Copa América, leads Brazil to final
During June 2021, in Brazil's opening group match of the 2021 Copa América, Neymar scored from the penalty spot and assisted another goal in a 3–0 win over Venezuela. He continued to score and assist in subsequent matches, helping Brazil reach the final.
August 2021: Messi Joins PSG & Neymar's Season Debut
On August 10, 2021, Neymar's former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi signed with PSG. Neymar made his first appearance of the season on August 29, 2021, starting in a 2-0 win over Reims, where Messi debuted for PSG after replacing Neymar.
December 2021: Facebook Gaming Deal
In December 2021, Neymar signed a deal with Facebook Gaming.
2021: Forbes and Sportico Ranking
In 2021, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete, earning $95 million. Sportico named him the sixth highest-paid athlete of 2021.
2021: Signed new contract with Barcelona
On July 1, 2016, Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2021.
February 2022: Return from Injury
On February 15, 2022, Neymar returned from an ankle injury in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, assisting Mbappé's winning goal. Four days later, in his first league start of 2022, he scored a goal and missed a penalty against Nantes.
October 2022: Stand-out Player in Europe
By early October 2022, Neymar was considered one of the stand-out players in Europe, having scored 11 goals and provided 9 assists in just 13 games, leading to discussions about him potentially winning the 2023 Ballon d'Or.
November 2022: Neymar Named in Brazil Squad for 2022 World Cup
In November 2022, Neymar was selected for the Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup, entering the tournament in excellent form and considered a key player for Brazil's chances of winning. He was also favored to win the Golden Ball.
2022: Call of Duty Appearance
In 2022, Neymar appeared as a playable operator in the first-person shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II.
2022: Netflix Documentary Series
In 2022, Neymar was the subject of a Netflix documentary series titled Neymar: The Perfect Chaos.
2022: Sportico Ranking
In 2022, Sportico named Neymar the fourth highest-paid athlete of the year.
2022: 2022 World Cup
In the 2022 World Cup, Brazil was favored to win due partly to Neymar's form, but suffered a quarter-final exit.
March 2023: Season-Ending Surgery
On March 6, 2023, PSG announced that Neymar would undergo surgery in Doha for an injury sustained at the 2022 World Cup, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. He subsequently missed PSG's Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
August 2023: Transfer to Al Hilal
On August 15, 2023, Neymar completed a transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal on a two-year contract for a reported fee of €90 million. He is reportedly being paid €150m a year at Al Hilal.
September 2023: Al Hilal Debut
On September 15, 2023, Neymar made his debut for Al Hilal, coming off the bench and providing an assist in a 6-1 victory against Al-Riyadh.
October 2023: First Goal for Al Hilal & ACL Injury
In October 2023, Neymar scored his first goal for Al Hilal in an AFC Champions League match against Nassaji Mazandaran. Later that month, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.
2023: Forbes and Sportico Ranking
In 2023, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's twelfth highest-paid athlete, earning $85 million. Sportico named him sixth highest-paid athlete of 2023.
2023: Joining Al Hilal
In 2023, Neymar parted ways with PSG to join Saudi club Al Hilal in a lucrative deal.
January 2024: Deregistered by Al Hilal
In January 2024, due to his season-ending injury, Al Hilal deregistered Neymar to free up a foreign roster spot for Renan Lodi.
October 2024: Return to Action and Hamstring Injury
In October 2024, Neymar returned to action during Al Hilal's AFC Champions League match against Al Ain. However, a few weeks later, he suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year.
2024: Forbes and Sportico Ranking
In 2024, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's seventh highest-paid athlete, earning $108 million. Sportico named him sixth highest-paid athlete of 2024.
January 2025: Return to Santos
In January 2025, Neymar returned to Santos.
January 2025: Neymar unregistered and contract terminated with Al Hilal
In January 2025, Neymar was not registered for the league competition by Al Hilal. Coach Jorge Jesus stated Neymar could no longer perform at the expected level. On January 27, 2025, the club announced an agreement to terminate Neymar's contract by mutual consent.
January 2025: Neymar announces signing with Santos
On January 30, 2025, Neymar announced via social media that he would sign a contract with Santos, his first club. Santos confirmed his return the following day.
February 2025: Neymar re-debuts for Santos
On February 6, 2025, Neymar re-debuted for Santos, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Botafogo-SP. Fans celebrated his return after 12 years, and he received the Man of the Match award.
February 2025: Neymar scores first goal after return to Santos
Ten days after his re-debut, in February 2025 Neymar scored his first goal after returning to Santos in a 3–1 win over Água Santa. He also assisted a goal and received the Man of the Match award. On February 23, 2025, Neymar scored directly from a corner kick and earned another Man of the Match award.
March 2025: Neymar Named in Preliminary Squad for National Team
In March 2025, Neymar was included in the 29-man preliminary squad for the national team.
April 2025: Neymar wears #100 jersey, suffers injury
On April 16, 2025, Neymar wore the number 100 jersey for his 100th match at Vila Belmiro against Atlético Mineiro, which resulted in a 2-0 win. He played only 32 minutes and was subbed off due to injury, sidelining him for over a month.
May 2025: Neymar sent off in match against Botafogo
On May 25, 2025, Neymar came on from the bench in a win over Vitória. He returned to the starting lineup seven days later in a match against Botafogo where he was deployed as a false nine, played 76 minutes, and was then sent off for handballing. Santos lost the match 1–0.
2025: Forbes Ranking
In 2025, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's 25th highest-paid athlete with earnings of $76 million.
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