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 highly acclaimed Brazilian footballer, renowned for his exceptional dribbling, technical skill, playmaking, and goal-scoring abilities. He plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Santos and captains the Brazil national team. He is one of five players to score 100 goals for three different clubs. He holds records for the most goals and assists by a Brazilian player in the UEFA Champions League. Neymar is the second-highest South American goalscorer in international football and a former record holder for international assists. Having scored over 400 senior career goals and registered over 250 assists, he is widely considered among the greatest footballers of all time.
1994: Progressing past the Champions League Quarter-Finals
Prior to Neymar's arrival at PSG in 2017, the club had not progressed beyond the quarter final stage of the Champions League since 1994–95; they had now done so in two consecutive seasons.
2003: Move to Santos and Joining Santos
In 2003, Neymar moved with his family to São Vicente and then to Santos, where he joined the Santos youth team.
2003: Contract with Santos
In 2003, Neymar was offered a contract by Santos and was inducted into their youth academy.
2006: Kaká tops Champions League scoring list
In 2015, Neymar was the first player apart from Messi and Ronaldo to top the Champions League's scoring list, since compatriot Kaká in 2006–07.
March 2009: Professional Debut
On 7 March 2009, Neymar made his professional debut for Santos. He was brought on for the last thirty minutes, 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 Victory
On 5 May 2010, Neymar scored a goal in the 3–1 Copa do Brasil quarterfinals victory over Atletico-MG.
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 new head 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 Brazil's national team in a friendly match against the United States, scoring a header after 28 minutes.
November 2010: Sale of Transfer Fee Share
On 30 November 2010, Santos sold a 5% share of future transfer fees for Neymar to Terceira Estrela Investimentos S.A. (TEISA).
2010: Neymar was not selected for the 2010 World Cup squad
Following Neymar's performances for Santos, 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, but Dunga omitted him from the squad.
2010: Continued Development and Campeonato Paulista Win
In 2010, Neymar continued his rapid development, scoring five goals in a match and leading Santos to win the Campeonato Paulista. He was also awarded the best player in the competition.
2010: Rejection of European Bids
In 2010, Santos rejected bids from West Ham United and Chelsea for Neymar.
2010: Neymar's breakthrough season
Neymar had a breakthrough season in 2010, scoring 42 goals in 60 matches.
March 2011: Signed with Nike and Panasonic
In March 2011, Neymar signed an 11-year contract with Nike and also secured a two-year deal with Panasonic for US$2.4 million.
March 2011: Neymar scores twice against Scotland and alleges racism
On March 27, 2011, Neymar scored twice in a 2–0 win against Scotland. A banana was thrown onto the pitch after he scored from the penalty spot, leading Neymar to complain about racism. The Scottish Football Association asked for an apology for the accusations made to the Scottish fans, but Neymar refused to apologise.
July 2011: Spectacular Goal Against Flamengo
In July 2011, Neymar scored two goals, including a spectacular solo goal, in a match against Flamengo, though Santos lost 5–4. His first goal 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, denying any existing agreement.
2011: Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores Success
In 2011, Neymar scored crucial goals in the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa Libertadores, helping Santos clinch both titles. He also won Man of the Match honors in the Copa Libertadores final.
2011: Neymar's performance in 2011 South American Youth Championship
In 2011, Neymar was the leading goalscorer of the South American Youth Championship with nine goals, including two in the final against Uruguay. He also participated in the 2011 Copa América.
2011: Copa Libertadores Win
In 2011, Neymar won the Copa Libertadores with Santos, also scoring in the finals.
February 2012: 100th Professional Goal
On 5 February 2012, 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.
May 2012: Neymar selected for Brazil Olympic football team
On May 11, 2012, Neymar was selected for the squad of the Brazil Olympic football team to participate in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
July 2012: Neymar's performance in Brazil's warm-up and opening matches
In July 2012, Neymar was involved in both goals of Brazil's 2–0 win against Great Britain. On July 26, he scored his first goal in Brazil's opening fixture against Egypt, which ended a 3–2 victory for Brazil.
August 2012: Neymar scores brace against Palmeiras
On August 25, 2012, Neymar scored twice in a 2–1 away win against 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 resemble Neymar's shirt number 11.
2012: Olympic Silver Medal
In 2012, Neymar helped Brazil reach the final at the Summer Olympics, receiving the Olympic silver medal.
2012: Campeonato Paulista Finals and Copa Libertadores
In 2012, Neymar scored twice in both legs of the Campeonato Paulista Finals, leading Santos to victory. He was also joint top scorer in the Copa Libertadores.
2012: Featured on Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 cover
In 2012, 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.
2012: Pelé claims Neymar is the best player, Maradona responds
In 2012, Pelé claimed that Neymar was the best player in the world, a statement that Diego Maradona responded to by suggesting Neymar could only be considered the best if Messi was from another planet. Neymar himself stated Messi was above everyone and an inspiration, while Ronaldo considered Neymar a great talent and similar to Messi. Zico compared Neymar to Ronaldo or Messi. Neymar also expressed admiration for Messi after his own hat-trick and Messi's five goals in the Champions League in 2012.
January 2013: Neymar scores twice against São Bernardo
On January 19, 2013, Neymar started the 2013 Campeonato Paulista season by scoring twice in a 3–1 win over São Bernardo.
February 2013: Appeared on the cover of Time magazine
In February 2013, Neymar appeared on the cover of Time magazine, marking the first time a Brazilian athlete had done so. The issue included an article entitled "The Next Pelé."
May 2013: 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: Named most marketable athlete in the world by SportsPro magazine and launched Nike Hypervenom football boot.
In May 2013, SportsPro magazine named Neymar the most marketable athlete in the world, and he launched the Nike Hypervenom football boot.
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 Champions League debut and first El Clásico appearance
In 2013, Neymar debuted in the UEFA Champions League on September 18, assisting a goal in a 4–0 win against Ajax. He scored his first La Liga goal on September 24 in a 4–1 win against Real Sociedad. On October 26, 2013, he made his first El Clásico appearance, scoring a goal and assisting in a 2–1 victory against Real Madrid. On December 11, 2013, he scored his first Champions League hat-trick in a 6–1 win over Celtic.
2013: Neymar's last match for Santos
In 2013, Neymar finished the state league campaign with 12 goals, and was runner-up in the top scorers charts, as Santos finished state league runner-up to Corinthians. Neymar played his last match for Santos on May 26 against Flamengo in the first round of the 2013 Brazilian Championship, and was in tears during the national anthem, with the match ending in a draw.
2013: Golden Ball at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
In 2013, Neymar had stellar performances in the tournament, scoring in consecutive matches. He received the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament following Brazil's victory over Spain in the final. He also finished in 5th place for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
2013: Neymar's La Liga Debut and Supercopa de España Victory
In 2013, Neymar made his La Liga debut for Barcelona as a substitute in a 7–0 win against Levante. On August 21, 2013, he played in the Supercopa de España against Atlético Madrid, scoring a header to level the match in the first leg. Barcelona won the trophy due to Neymar's away goal.
2013: Signing with Barcelona
In 2013, Neymar signed with Barcelona and became part of the MSN attacking trio.
2013: Featured on Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 cover
In 2013, Neymar was featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 on the North American version.
2013: Selected for Brazil's 2013 Confederations Cup Squad
In 2013, Neymar was selected for Brazil's squad for the 2013 Confederations Cup, which was held on home soil. He was assigned the number 10 shirt for the tournament, having previously worn number 11.
2013: Goals in Europe
In 2022, Neymar helped PSG win their 10th national championship, finishing the season with 13 goals and 8 assists across all competitions, registering the fewest test scored since arriving in Europe in 2013
March 2014: Hat-trick and Heartwarming Gesture in Friendly
In March 2014, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a friendly win against South Africa in Johannesburg. After the final whistle, he intervened when a South African boy ran onto the pitch and was being escorted off, introducing him to his Brazil teammates and lifting him in the air during celebrations.
September 2014: Neymar scores first goals of the season
On September 13, 2014, Neymar scored his first two goals of the 2014–15 season in a 2–0 win against Athletic Bilbao. He also scored a hat-trick against Granada on September 27 in a 6–0 win and scored in the next three La Liga matches.
October 2014: Appointed Brazil Captain and Four Goals vs. Japan
In October 2014, Neymar was permanently appointed as the captain of the Brazil national team. On 14 October 2014, he scored four goals in a single game for the first time in his international career during a friendly win against Japan in Singapore.
November 2014: Appeared 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: Starred in Beats advert
In 2014, Neymar starred in an advert for Beats alongside other football stars, centered around the theme of 'The Game Before The Game' and the players' pre-game ritual of listening to music.
2014: Treble Win with Barcelona
In 2014, Neymar won La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League with Barcelona, finishing as top goalscorer of the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
2014: Named in Brazil Squad for 2014 World Cup
In June 2014, Neymar was named in the Brazil squad for the 2014 World Cup. As the team's star player, expectations were high for him to lead Brazil to success in the tournament, especially on home soil. Prior to the tournament, he scored and assisted in a friendly win against Panama.
2014: Contract Extension with Santos
On 9 November, Neymar and Santos agreed to a contract extension that would see the player stay with the club until after the 2014 World Cup.
2014: Neymar intends to leave for Europe
On April 25, 2013, Neymar's agent and father revealed that Neymar intended to leave for Europe before the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
January 2015: Neymar scores twice 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 in a 3–2 Copa del Rey quarter-final win over Atlético Madrid.
March 2015: Fourth highest social media rank among sportspeople
In March 2015, Neymar had the fourth highest social media rank in the world among sportspeople, with 52 million Facebook fans.
June 2015: Suspension from 2015 Copa América
In June 2015, during the Copa América, Neymar scored in Brazil's opening match. However, after the second match against Colombia, he received a red card for kicking the ball at an opponent, resulting in a four-match ban and his exclusion from the rest of the tournament.
2015: Barcelona wins league title and Copa del Rey
After Barcelona secured the league title on May 17, 2015, they defeated Athletic Bilbao 3–1 in the 2015 Copa del Rey Final on May 30, with Neymar scoring the second goal. His ball tricks during the final stages were deemed unsporting, but he did not apologize.
2015: Neymar's Peak Performance During Messi's Absence
Due to having the mumps, Neymar missed the 2015 UEFA Super Cup and the 2015 Supercopa de España. In Messi's absence due to injury from September 26, 2015, Neymar had a period of exceptional performance, scoring 13 goals and providing 9 assists in 8 games.
2015: Neymar's goal-scoring streak and Ballon d'Or nomination
In 2015, Neymar scored four goals in Barcelona's 5–2 win over Rayo Vallecano on October 17, scored a notable goal against Villarreal on November 8, assisted in a 4-0 win against Real Madrid on November 21, and scored twice against Real Sociedad on November 28. By this time, he was praised as being on the same level as Messi and Ronaldo, and was shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or, ultimately finishing third.
2015: Neymar's key goals in Copa del Rey and Champions League
In 2015, Neymar scored twice in Barcelona's 3–1 Copa del Rey semi-final win over Villarreal on March 4 to qualify the club for the final. On April 21, 2015, Neymar scored twice in a 2–0 Champions League quarter-final win over Paris Saint-Germain. In May 2015, Neymar scored in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich, and twice in the second leg. He also scored in a league win versus Real Sociedad.
2015: Neymar scores in Champions League Final
On June 6, 2015, Neymar scored in the 3–1 Champions League Final victory against Juventus. Barcelona won its fifth European Cup and became the first club to twice win the treble of domestic league, domestic cup, and European Cup. 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. He ended the season with 39 goals. Barcelona's attacking trio of Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar, dubbed MSN, ended with 122 goals.
March 2016: Neymar scores against Arsenal in Champions League
On March 16, 2016, Neymar scored against Arsenal in the Champions League, helping Barcelona advance. They were later knocked out by Atlético Madrid. Neymar's season included 3 goals and 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 2–0 Copa del Rey Final win over Sevilla. The front three of Messi, Suárez and Neymar finished the season with 131 goals. Neymar scored over 30 goals for the second consecutive season, with 31 goals and 25 assists in 49 matches.
June 2016: First footballer to wear 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—establishing an early and personal connection with Air Jordan.
June 2016: Selected for 2016 Summer Olympics Squad
In late June 2016, Neymar was selected as one of the over-23 players to represent Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics on home soil. He was also named the team's captain for the Olympic squad.
July 2016: Neymar signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2021
In July 2016, Neymar signed a contract extension with Barcelona, committing to the club until 2021. His new contract featured a buyout clause that started at €200 million and would increase over the term of the deal.
September 2016: Neymar scores a goal and provides four assists against Celtic
In September 2016, Neymar had a standout performance in a Champions League group stage match, scoring one goal and providing four assists in Barcelona's 7-0 victory against Celtic. He also scored his first goal of the 2016-17 La Liga season against Leganés in a 5–1 win.
October 2016: Neymar scores last goal of 2016 against Man City
In October 2016, Neymar scored his last goal of the year in a Champions League group stage match against Manchester City, contributing to a 4-0 victory. This marked the end of a less prolific goal-scoring period 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.
2016: Fourth most famous athlete in the world
In 2016, Neymar was ranked the fourth most famous athlete in the world by ESPN.
February 2017: Barcelona lost to PSG 4-0
On 14 February 2017, Barcelona suffered a 4-0 loss to PSG in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
March 2017: Neymar stars in Barcelona's 6-1 victory over PSG
On 8 March 2017, Neymar played a pivotal role in Barcelona's historic 6-1 victory against PSG in the Champions League, known as 'La Remontada'. He scored a free-kick and a penalty, and assisted 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 with eight.
April 2017: Included in Time 100 list
In April 2017, Neymar was included in the Time 100, Time magazine's list of the most influential people in the world.
June 2017: Neymar informs teammates of his desire to leave Barcelona
In June 2017, Neymar reportedly informed his Barcelona teammates, including Xavi, of his intention to leave the club, seemingly confirmed during Messi's wedding. Media speculation suggested he sought to step out of Messi's shadow and enhance his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or.
August 2017: Neymar's representatives pay Barcelona €222 million release clause
In August 2017, Neymar's legal representatives paid Barcelona €222 million, matching his release clause, making it the most expensive transfer in football history. The club notified UEFA for any disciplinary review. La Liga rejected the payment, citing concerns over PSG's compliance with Financial Fair Play rules.
August 2017: Neymar makes his debut for PSG, scoring a goal and assisting another
On August 13, 2017, Neymar debuted for PSG, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 3-0 victory over Guingamp. The match was broadcast in 183 countries. On August 20, he added two goals and two assists in a 6-2 win against Toulouse.
2017: Neymar beats Ronaldinho's tally of 94 goals with Barcelona
In 2017, Neymar surpassed Ronaldinho's record of 94 goals for Barcelona by scoring his 95th goal in 169 matches. On April 2nd, he scored his 100th goal for Barcelona in a 4-1 win over Granada. He also scored his first away hat-trick for Barcelona in a 4-1 victory against Las Palmas. On May 27th, Neymar scored in the 2017 Copa del Rey Final as Barcelona defeated Alavés 3–1.
2017: Progressing past the Champions League Quarter-Finals
Prior to Neymar's arrival at PSG in 2017, the club had not progressed beyond the quarter final stage of the Champions League since 1994–95; they had now done so in two consecutive seasons.
June 2018: International Comeback and Goal-Scoring Feat
In June 2018, Neymar made his international comeback after a three-month absence due to a foot injury, scoring a goal in a friendly match against Croatia. Later that week, he became Brazil's joint-third highest goalscorer by scoring his 55th international goal in a friendly win over Austria.
June 2018: Neymar's contract with Barcelona to last till June 2018
On June 3, 2013, 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 Matches and League Goal
In August 2018, Neymar played 15 minutes in PSG's 4–0 victory over Monaco in the Trophée des Champions. Later in August 2018, he scored PSG's opening league goal in a 3–0 win over Caen. He also scored from a penalty in a 3–1 win against Guingamp, and contributed a goal and an assist in a 3–1 win over Angers.
2018: Champions League exit against Roma (2018)
In 2018, Barcelona faced a Champions League exit against Roma after Neymar's departure, contributing to a decline in the club's identity and performance.
2018: Influential to PSG’s partnership with Air Jordan
In 2018, Neymar was influential to PSG’s groundbreaking partnership with Air Jordan. That relationship set the stage for the 2018 PSG × Air Jordan launch.
May 2019: Included in Copa América Squad, then Ruled Out Due to Injury
In May 2019, Neymar was initially included in Brazil's squad for the 2019 Copa América. However, on 5 June 2019, he suffered an ankle injury in a friendly win over Qatar and was ruled out of the tournament.
August 2019: Transfer Negotiations and Offer
In August 2019, Neymar offered to pay €20m to PSG to facilitate a move to Barcelona. On August 27, 2019, Barcelona and PSG met, but PSG rejected Barcelona's offer. On August 30, 2019, Neymar made a written offer to PSG, which was dismissed. He ultimately stayed at PSG after the Barcelona talks broke down. Real Madrid also showed interest during the transfer window.
2019: Champions League exit against Liverpool (2019)
In 2019, Barcelona faced a Champions League exit against Liverpool after Neymar's departure, contributing to a decline in the club's identity and performance.
2019: Again ranked as the world's fourth most famous athlete
In 2019, ESPN again ranked Neymar as the world's fourth most famous athlete.
2019: Forbes ranked Neymar as third highest paid athlete
In 2019, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's third-highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $105 million for the year.
2019: Appeared in The Making Of series and Neymar and the Line of King
In 2019, Neymar appeared in The Making Of series, documentaries which relives the significant games that helped define football's greatest modern icons, with Neymar recounting his performance for Santos against Flamengo in 2011 when he scored that year's FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year, and also in the film Neymar and the Line of King which covers Neymar's journey in becoming one of Brazil's top players.
2019: Return to PSG and Injury
In 2019, Neymar was booed on his first appearance for PSG, but scored a bicycle kick to win against Strasbourg. He also scored a late winner against Lyon. In October 2019, he suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty and returned to play against Real Madrid on November 26, 2019.
August 2020: Nike contract terminated
In August 2020, Neymar's 11-year contract with Nike ended after a Nike employee made a sexual assault complaint against him. Soon after, Neymar signed with Puma and adopted the PUMA King boots previously worn by other famous players. This Puma deal was considered the highest-value individual football boot contract ever.
2020: Forbes ranked Neymar as fourth highest paid athlete
In 2020, Forbes ranked Neymar fourth among the world's highest-paid athletes, reporting his earnings at $95.5 million.
2020: Champions League Final with PSG
In 2020, Neymar led PSG to their first-ever Champions League final.
2020: COVID-19, Goals and Ligue 1 Record
In 2020, Neymar tested positive for COVID-19 and missed the first match of the season. On October 2, 2020, he scored his first two goals of the season against Angers. On November 28, 2020, he scored his 50th goal in Ligue 1, becoming the fastest player to reach this milestone in only 58 matches.
2020: UEFA Award Nominations
In 2020, Neymar was nominated for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award and was ranked third for the UEFA Forward of the Season. There was debate among journalists whether Neymar outshone Lewandowski as the best player of 2020.
January 2021: Trophée des Champions win
On 13 January 2021, Neymar scored the winning goal from a penalty, in a 2–1 win over rivals Marseille in the Trophée des Champions.
June 2021: 2021 Copa América
In June 2021, in Brazil's opening group match of the 2021 Copa América, Neymar scored his team's second goal from the penalty spot and later assisted another in a 3–0 win over Venezuela.
August 2021: Messi Signs for PSG and Neymar's First Appearance
In August 2021, Neymar's former Barcelona teammate Messi signed for PSG. On August 29, 2021, Neymar made his first appearance of the season in a win over Reims, with Messi debuting for the club as a substitute.
December 2021: Signed a deal with Facebook Gaming
In December 2021, Neymar signed a deal with Facebook Gaming.
2021: Forbes ranked Neymar as fourth highest paid athlete
In 2021, Forbes ranked Neymar fourth among the world's highest-paid athletes, reporting his earnings at $95 million.
2021: Copa América Best Player Award
In 2021, Neymar was focal to Brazil's runners-up finish in the Copa América and was jointly awarded Best Player.
February 2022: Return From Injury and League Play
In February 2022, Neymar returned from an ankle injury in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, assisting Mbappé's winning goal. He made his return to league play and his first start in 2022 in a match against Nantes, scoring a goal and missing a penalty.
October 2022: Standout Player and Ballon d'Or contender
By early October 2022, Neymar was considered one of the stand-out players in Europe and back to his peak form, having scored 11 goals and providing 9 assists in just 13 games.
November 2022: Named in Brazil Squad for 2022 World Cup
In November 2022, Neymar was named in the Brazil squad for the 2022 World Cup. He entered the tournament in excellent form, with many considering the World Cup as potentially his crowning moment, where he could win the Golden Ball.
2022: PSG squad overhaul after the 2022-23 season
At the end of the 2022-23 season, PSG began a squad overhaul. Neymar and Marco Verratti were informed that they were not in the team's plans for the following season. Neymar was linked with a potential return to Barcelona, but the deal never reached an advanced stage.
2022: Playable operator 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 sustained injury at the 2022 FIFA World Cup
In 2022, Neymar sustained an injury at the FIFA World Cup, which would affect his performance in the second half of the season.
2022: Subject of Netflix documentary
In 2022, Neymar was the subject of a Netflix documentary series titled Neymar: The Perfect Chaos.
2022: Sportico named Neymar as fourth highest paid athlete of 2022
In 2022, Sportico named Neymar the fourth highest-paid athlete.
March 2023: Neymar to undergo surgery in Doha
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 the Champions League match against Bayern Munich.
August 2023: Neymar joins Al Hilal
On August 15, 2023, Neymar completed a transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal on a two-year contract for €90 million. He was reportedly being paid €150m a year.
September 2023: Neymar's debut for Al Hilal
On September 15, 2023, Neymar made his club debut for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, providing an assist in a 6–1 win against Al-Riyadh.
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. He then ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.
2023: Forbes ranked Neymar as twelfth highest paid athlete
In 2023, Forbes ranked Neymar twelfth among the world's highest-paid athletes, reporting his earnings at $85 million.
January 2024: Al Hilal deregisters Neymar
In January 2024, Al Hilal deregistered Neymar due to his season-ending injury, freeing up a foreign roster spot.
June 2024: 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 suffers hamstring injury in 2024
In October 2024, Neymar returned to action for Al Hilal against Al Ain, but suffered a hamstring injury a few weeks later. He was also named as one of three winners of the Player Career Award at the Globe Soccer Awards at the end of 2024.
2024: Forbes ranked Neymar as seventh highest paid athlete
In 2024, Forbes ranked Neymar seventh among the world's highest-paid athletes, reporting his earnings at $108 million.
2024: Neymar's future at Al Hilal questioned in 2024-25 season
In 2024-25 season, Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus stated that Neymar can no longer perform at the level they are used to and things have become difficult for him.
January 2025: Neymar considers playing in Brazil again and contract termination with Al Hilal
In January 2025, Neymar expressed interest in playing for Flamengo or Santos in Brazil again. He was not registered for the league competition, and Al Hilal terminated his contract by mutual consent on January 27, 2025.
January 2025: Return to Santos
In January 2025, Neymar returned to Santos football club.
January 2025: Neymar announces signing with Santos
On January 30, 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
On 2 March 2025, Neymar was named in the 29 men in the preliminary squad for the national team.
2025: Forbes ranked Neymar as twenty-fifth highest paid athlete
In 2025, Forbes ranked Neymar twenty-fifth among the world's highest-paid athletes, reporting his earnings at $76 million.
2025: Neymar returns to Santos' lineup in 2025
Neymar returned to Santos' lineup in 2025, playing in Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Paulista matches. He renewed his contract with Santos until the end of the year, with an option for a further six months. Santos reported record-breaking social media growth and significant commercial gains due to Neymar's return.
2025: Contract Extension with PSG
On 8 May, Neymar extended his contract with PSG until 2025. He stated his desire to win the Champions League with PSG.
January 2026: Neymar extends contract with Santos until the end of the year
On January 6, 2026, Neymar extended his contract with Santos until the end of the year.
2026: Neymar aims to regain top form for the 2026 World Cup
One of the reasons for Neymar returning to Santos in January 2025 was to regain top form ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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