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 Brazilian professional footballer renowned for his exceptional skills as a left winger, attacking midfielder, or forward. He currently plays for Santos and captains the Brazil national team. Widely regarded as one of the best players ever, Neymar is celebrated for his flair, dribbling prowess, playmaking abilities, and clinical finishing. He holds the distinction of being Brazil's all-time top goalscorer.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1978: Rivellino's transfer

In August 2023, Neymar's transfer to Al Hilal drew comparisons to former Brazil international Rivellino's transfer to the club in 1978.

2003: Offered Contract by Santos

In 2003, Neymar began playing football and was soon spotted by Santos, who offered him a contract and inducted him into their youth academy.

2003: Moved to Sao Vicente and Santos

In 2003, Neymar moved with his family to São Vicente and began playing for Portuguesa Santista's youth side. Later in 2003, they moved to Santos, where Neymar joined Santos.

March 2009: Professional Debut

On 7 March 2009, Neymar made his professional debut for Santos. Later in March 2009, he scored his first goal for Santos against Mogi Mirim.

2009: Professional Debut with Santos

In 2009, Neymar made his professional debut with Santos, marking the beginning of his senior career.

May 2010: Copa do Brasil Quarterfinals

In May 2010, Neymar scored 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 the Brazil national team, scoring a header in a 2–0 win against the United States.

2010: Continued Development and Campeonato Paulista Win

In 2010, Neymar continued his rapid development, scoring five goals in a match against Guarani. Following the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, in which he scored 14 goals, Santos were crowned champions and Neymar was awarded the best player in the competition.

2010: Pelé and Romário urge Dunga to take Neymar to the 2010 World Cup

In 2010, after Neymar's performances in Santos' successful early season, Pelé and Romário urged coach Dunga to take Neymar to the 2010 World Cup, but he was omitted from the squad.

2010: Interest from European Clubs

In the summer transfer window of 2010, Santos rejected bids for Neymar from West Ham United and Chelsea. Despite interest from European clubs, Neymar chose to stay with Santos.

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 amid racism accusations

On March 27, 2011, Neymar scored twice in a 2–0 win against Scotland. A banana was thrown onto the pitch, leading Neymar to complain about racism, which Scottish officials denied, leading to controversy.

July 2011: First Goals and Puskás Award

In July 2011, Neymar scored his first goals of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro, including a spectacular solo dribble against Ronaldinho's Flamengo. This goal later won the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award.

September 2011: Real Madrid Interest and Contract Extension

In September 2011, Santos club president Luís Ribeiro threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA due to reports of a pre-contract agreement with Neymar. On 9 November 2011, Neymar and Santos agreed to a contract extension until after the 2014 World Cup.

2011: Performance against Flamengo

In 2011, Neymar played for Santos against Flamengo and scored the FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year.

2011: Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores Wins

In 2011, Neymar scored crucial goals during the season, helping Santos clinch back-to-back state titles. He also scored six goals during Santos' run to the 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals, including the clinching goal in the semi-finals, contributing to Santos' first Copa Libertadores triumph since 1963.

2011: Awards and Copa Libertadores Win

In 2011, Neymar was awarded the league's Best Player and won the FIFA Puskás Award for a solo effort. In 2011, he also helped Santos win their first Copa Libertadores in nearly 50 years.

2011: Neymar's performance in 2011 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.

April 2012: Hat-Trick Against Sao Paulo

In April 2012, Neymar scored a hat-trick against São Paulo in a match that ended 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 scores in pre-Olympics friendly and opening fixture

In July 2012, Neymar scored in a warm-up match against Great Britain and scored his first goal in Brazil's opening fixture against Egypt.

August 2012: Scored a brace in 2–1 win at Palmeiras

On August 25, 2012, Neymar scored two goals in a 2–1 away win against Palmeiras.

August 2012: Neymar helps Brazil reach Olympic final

On August 5, 2012, Neymar scored a penalty and assisted a goal against Honduras, helping Brazil reach the Olympic semi-finals. On August 11, Brazil lost to Mexico in the final.

September 2012: Neymar scores hat-trick and winner against Argentina

On September 10, 2012, Neymar scored his first full international hat-trick in an 8–0 win over China. On September 19, Neymar scored the winner against Argentina in a 2–1 win.

November 2012: Neymar's personal brand logo created

In November 2012, advertising agency Loducca created Neymar's personal brand logo, featuring the N, J, and R with the N styled to match Neymar's shirt number 11.

2012: Neymar 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.

January 2013: Scored twice in the first match of the 2013 Campeonato Paulista

On January 19, 2013, Neymar scored twice in the first match of the 2013 Campeonato Paulista, which ended in a 3–1 win over São Bernardo.

February 2013: Neymar on the cover of Time magazine

In February 2013, Neymar appeared on the cover of Time magazine, the first Brazilian athlete to do so.

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. In the same month, Neymar launched the Nike Hypervenom football boot.

May 2013: Announced signing with Barcelona

On May 25, 2013, Neymar announced that he would sign with Barcelona on May 27 and join the team after the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.

July 2013: Unofficial debut with Barcelona

On July 30, 2013, Neymar made his unofficial debut for Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against Lechia Gdańsk, coming on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw.

2013: Joined Barcelona

In 2013, Neymar joined Barcelona and formed the attacking trio MSN with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.

2013: Neymar 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: Neymar selected for Brazil squad for Confederations Cup

In 2013, Neymar was selected as part of Brazil's squad for the Confederations Cup on home soil and was assigned the number 10 shirt.

2013: Fewest Goals Scored Since Arriving in Europe

In 2022, Neymar finished the season with 13 goals and 8 assists across all competitions, registering the fewest goals scored since arriving in Europe in 2013.

March 2014: Neymar scores hat-trick and makes headlines for conduct with young fan

On March 5, 2014, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a friendly win against South Africa. He made headlines for his conduct with a young fan after the final whistle.

June 2014: Neymar on cover of Vogue Brazil with Gisele Bündchen

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

On September 13, 2014, Neymar scored his first two goals of the 2014–15 season in a 2–0 win against Athletic Bilbao. On September 27, 2014, he scored a hat-trick against Granada in a 6–0 win.

October 2014: Neymar scores four goals against Japan

On October 14, 2014, Neymar scored four goals in a friendly win against Japan. He had become the fifth highest goalscorer for his national team.

November 2014: Neymar participates in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign

In November 2014, Neymar participated in FIFA's "11 against Ebola" campaign with other football players to raise awareness of the disease.

2014: Neymar stars in Beats advert

In 2014, Neymar starred in a Beats advert alongside other football stars such as Thierry Henry and Luis Suárez.

2014: Neymar named in Brazil squad for FIFA World Cup

In 2014, Neymar was named in the Brazil squad for the FIFA World Cup. Prior to the tournament, he scored once and made two assists in a friendly win over Panama.

2014: Contract Extension

In 2014, Neymar's contract extension with Santos meant he would stay with the club until after the 2014 World Cup.

January 2015: Scored twice and assisted two more goals in 6-0 win

On January 24, 2015, Neymar scored two goals and assisted two more in Barcelona's 6-0 win against Elche. On January 28, 2015, he scored his 20th goal of the season in a 3-2 Copa del Rey quarter-final win over Atlético Madrid.

March 2015: Neymar scores against France

On March 26, 2015, Neymar scored in a 3–1 friendly win over France.

June 2015: Neymar scores and receives ban in Copa América

On June 14, 2015, Neymar scored and assisted in Brazil's opening Copa América fixture. He was later red carded and banned for four matches after a loss to Colombia.

May 2016: Copa del Rey Final

On May 22, 2016, Neymar scored a late goal in Barcelona's 2–0 extra time win over Sevilla in the 2016 Copa del Rey Final.

June 2016: Neymar to play in the Olympics

In June 2016, Neymar was included in Brazil's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics and was named the team's captain.

February 2017: Heroic role in Champions League comeback against PSG

In February 2017, Neymar played a crucial role in Barcelona's historic 6–1 victory over PSG in the Champions League round of 16, scoring two goals and assisting the decisive goal, making it the biggest comeback in Champions League history.

June 2017: Informed teammates of desire to leave Barcelona

In June 2017, Neymar reportedly informed his Barcelona teammates of his intention to leave the club at Lionel Messi's wedding.

July 2017: Media speculation of joining PSG

In July 2017, media speculation emerged regarding Neymar's desire to join PSG, with the club engaging in talks with Barcelona officials.

August 2017: Debut for Les Rouge-et-Bleu

On August 13, 2017, Neymar made his debut for Paris Saint-Germain (Les Rouge-et-Bleu), contributing a goal and an assist in a 3–0 victory against Guingamp.

August 2017: Asked Barcelona to leave

On August 2, 2017, Neymar officially requested Barcelona to allow him to leave the club.

August 2017: Payment of release clause

On August 3, 2017, Neymar's legal representatives paid €222 million to Barcelona, matching his release clause and marking the most expensive transfer ever.

2017: Joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

In 2017, Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a record transfer fee of €222 million, becoming the most expensive player ever.

2017: 100th goal for Barcelona

In 2017, Neymar scored his 100th goal for Barcelona in his 177th appearance for the club.

February 2018: Fractured foot during match

On February 25, 2018, Neymar fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot during a 3–0 defeat of Marseille. He underwent a successful operation and was later awarded Ligue 1 Player of the Year despite missing appearances due to injury.

May 2018: Neymar named in Brazil squad for 2018 World Cup

In May 2018, Neymar was named in Brazil's squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

June 2018: Neymar scores in friendlies and World Cup

In June 2018, Neymar made his international comeback and scored in a friendly win over Croatia. He also scored against Costa Rica in the World Cup, becoming Brazil's third-highest goalscorer.

August 2018: Scored opening league goal and penalty for PSG

On August 12, 2018, Neymar scored PSG's opening league goal of the 2018–19 season in a 3–0 win over Caen. Later in August 2018, he scored from a penalty in a 3–1 win against Guingamp.

2018: FIFA World Cup Appearance

In 2018, Neymar appeared at the FIFA World Cup, representing Brazil on the world stage.

2018: Played in the 2018 World Cup

In 2018, Neymar played for Brazil at the World Cup in Russia after recovering from an injury in February, adapting his playing style to avoid physical contact.

May 2019: Neymar included in Brazil's Copa América squad

In May 2019, Neymar was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América on home soil.

August 2019: Attempted transfer to Barcelona

In August 2019, Neymar was prepared to pay €20m to facilitate a move to Barcelona, but PSG refused Barcelona's offer. Neymar's offer was dismissed due to regulations, and he agreed to stay at PSG. Real Madrid also showed interest.

October 2019: Neymar plays 100th match for Brazil

On October 10, 2019, Neymar played his 100th match for Brazil in a friendly draw with Senegal.

2019: Appearing in The Making Of series

In 2019, Neymar appeared in The Making Of series in collaboration with DAZN. This documentary series revisits significant games that helped define football's modern icons. Neymar recounted his performance for Santos against Flamengo in 2011, where he scored the FIFA Puskás Award for Goal of the Year. He was also featured in the film Neymar and the Line of King, which covers his journey to becoming one of Brazil's top players in 2019.

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2019: Return to PSG and Hamstring Injury

In 2019, Neymar made his first appearance for PSG on September 14, scoring the winning goal against Strasbourg. He suffered a hamstring injury in October and returned during a Champions League match against Real Madrid on November 26.

2019: Coupe de France Final and Incident with Spectator

In 2019, on April 27, Neymar scored in the Coupe de France Final against Rennes, which Rennes won on penalties. After the match, Neymar punched a spectator and admitted he was wrong, leading to discussions about respect and conflict.

July 2020: Wins Coupe de France Title

On July 24, 2020, Neymar scored his side's lone goal in a 1–0 win over Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France Final, winning his second Coupe de France title with the club. On July 31, 2020, PSG won the 2020 Coupe de la Ligue Final 6–5 on penalties over Lyon, completing a domestic treble.

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.

October 2020: Neymar surpasses Ronaldo as Brazil's second highest goalscorer

On October 13, 2020, Neymar scored a hat-trick against Peru and surpassed Ronaldo as Brazil's second-highest goalscorer of all time.

2020: UEFA Champions League

In 2020, Neymar played in both matches of the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich and both semi-final confrontations against Man City in the UEFA Champions League.

2020: PSG loses to Bayern Munich in Champions League final

In 2020, Neymar's PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

June 2021: Neymar's performance in Copa América 2021

In June 2021, during Brazil's opening group match of the 2021 Copa América, Neymar scored from the penalty spot and assisted another goal. He continued to contribute with goals and assists throughout the competition.

August 2021: First Appearance of the Season

In August 2021, Neymar made his first appearance of the season in a 2–0 win over Reims. Lionel Messi made his debut for the French club, replacing Neymar.

September 2021: Neymar becomes Brazil's all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification matches

On September 9, 2021, Neymar became Brazil's all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup qualification matches with 12 goals, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 win over Peru.

December 2021: Deal with Facebook Gaming

In December 2021, Neymar signed a deal with Facebook Gaming.

2021: Copa América Runner-Up

In 2021, Neymar helped Brazil finish as runner-up to Argentina in the Copa América, and was named in the Team of the Tournament.

February 2022: Return from Injury and Goal Against Nantes

In February 2022, Neymar returned from an ankle injury in a Champions League match against Real Madrid. He made his return to league play and his first start in 2022 in a match against Nantes; he scored a goal and missed a penalty.

October 2022: Considered one of the stand-out players in Europe

By early October 2022, Neymar was considered one of the stand-out players in Europe and back to his best form, having scored 11 goals and providing 9 assists in just 13 games.

November 2022: Neymar named in Brazil squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup

In November 2022, Neymar was named in the Brazil squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was in top form leading up to the tournament.

2022: PSG Squad Overhaul and Potential Return to Barcelona

At the end of the 2022–23 season, PSG began a squad overhaul. Neymar was informed that he would not be in the team's plans for the following season and was linked with a potential return to Barcelona.

2022: Neymar appears in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

In 2022, Neymar appeared as a playable operator in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, coinciding with the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

2022: Neymar: The Perfect Chaos release

In 2022, a Netflix documentary series titled Neymar: The Perfect Chaos was released, focusing on Neymar.

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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 €90 million, becoming the most expensive purchase in Saudi Pro League history. His transfer was compared to Rivellino's transfer to the club in 1978.

September 2023: Neymar scores twice, becomes Brazil's top goalscorer

On 8 September 2023, Neymar scored twice in a 5–1 win over Bolivia, becoming Brazil's top goalscorer with his 78th and 79th goals. He surpassed Pelé's record and mimicked Pelé's celebration after the game.

September 2023: Club Debut in Saudi Arabia

On September 15, 2023, Neymar made his club debut in Saudi Arabia, providing an assist.

October 2023: First Goal for the Club and ACL Injury

In October 2023, Neymar scored his first goal for Al Hilal. He also ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while on international duty.

2023: Joined Al Hilal

In 2023, Neymar was sold by PSG to Al Hilal for €90 million, joining the Saudi Pro League.

January 2024: Deregistered by Al Hilal

In January 2024, Al Hilal deregistered Neymar due to his season-ending injury to free up a foreign roster spot.

October 2024: Neymar returns to action against Al Ain

On October 21, 2024, Neymar returned to play for Al Hilal in their AFC Champions League match against Al Ain after a long absence due to injury.

2024: Neymar injury and Copa América exclusion

On 17 October 2023, during Brazil's qualifying defeat to Uruguay, Neymar suffered a complete rupture of his ACL and meniscus in his left knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign and the 2024 Copa América.

January 2025: Returned to Santos

In January 2025, Neymar returned to his boyhood club Santos after a period with Al Hilal, following recovery from an ACL injury.

January 2025: Al Hilal terminates Neymar's contract

In January 2025, Neymar was not registered for the league competition, and Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus expressed concerns about his performance level. On January 27, 2025, the club announced the termination of Neymar's contract by mutual consent.

January 2025: Neymar signs with Santos

On January 30, 2025, Neymar announced on social media that he would sign a contract with Santos, his first club. On January 31, 2025, Santos confirmed his return, and he would wear the number 10.

February 2025: Neymar re-debuts for Peixe

On February 6, 2025, Neymar made his re-debut for Peixe as a half-time substitute in a 1–1 draw against Botafogo-SP. He received a hero's welcome and the Man of the Match award.

February 2025: Neymar scores first goal after return

Ten days after his re-debut, in February 2025 Neymar scored his first goal after returning in a 3–1 win over Água Santa, he also assisted another goal. On February 23, 2025, Neymar scored from a corner kick.