Major Controversies Surrounding Neymar: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Neymar—discover key moments of controversy.

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.

Sections (7)

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

September 2010: Penalty Dispute and Manager Sacking

In September 2010, during a league match, Neymar's attitude led to a penalty dispute and the subsequent sacking of Santos' manager, Dorival Júnior.

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.

January 2014: Investigation into Neymar's transfer fee

In January 2014, the prosecutor's office in Madrid began investigating the transfer fee that Barcelona paid for Neymar. On January 23, 2014, Sandro Rosell resigned from his position as president, and a day later, the details of the transfer were revealed, costing €86.2 million, with Neymar's parents receiving €40 million. Barcelona and Bartomeu were subsequently charged with tax fraud.

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.

August 2017: Barcelona files lawsuit against Neymar

In August 2017, Barcelona initiated legal action against Neymar, demanding repayment of a contract renewal bonus he had received, in addition to €8.5 million in damages plus 10% for arrears. The lawsuit stemmed from the renewal bonus Neymar received when he signed a new contract in 2016.

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.

2017: Penalty dispute between Neymar and Edinson Cavani

In September 2017, a penalty dispute arose between Neymar and Edinson Cavani during a league match against Lyon. In October 2017, Neymar scored against Marseille in his first Le Classique but was sent off. Neymar also scored in PSG's opening games of the 2017–18 Champions League group stage, with the team winning 5–0 at Celtic and 3–0 at home over Bayern Munich. In the return leg against Celtic, Neymar scored twice and assisted once in PSG's 7–1 win.

2018: Criticism for diving during the 2018 World Cup

During the 2018 World Cup, Neymar inspired on the "Neymar Challenge" on social media due to his dramatic dives. In response to the criticism over his petulance and histrionics, Neymar starred in a commercial where he promised to change for the better.

July 2019: Absent from Training

In July 2019, Neymar was absent from training with PSG, leading to disciplinary action. He wanted to leave, citing a lack of protection from referees, jealousy from teammates, unappreciative fans, and a biased French media.

July 2019: Rape investigation dropped due to insufficient evidence

In July 2019, police announced that a rape investigation against Neymar would be dropped due to insufficient evidence.

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: Skipping Awards Ceremony

At the end of the 2018-2019 season, Neymar skipped Ligue 1's end-of-season awards ceremony to party with singer Rihanna, causing Mbappé to demand more responsibility within the PSG squad. Also In 2019, Neymar was not nominated for the Ballon d'Or due to injuries and off-field issues.

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.

2022: Endorsed Jair Bolsonaro in TikTok video

In 2022, Neymar appeared in a TikTok video endorsing President Jair Bolsonaro for the Brazilian presidential election, which resulted in heavy criticism.

2022: Supported Jair Bolsonaro in the Brazilian general election

In 2022, Neymar publicly supported Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in the Brazilian general election.

February 2023: Criticism after Champions League Loss

In February 2023, following PSG's loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, images of Neymar in a fast-food restaurant surfaced on social media, leading to criticism. Neymar defended his actions by stating, "It's my life, I do what I want."

2023: Potential fine for environmental violations

In the summer of 2023, Neymar faced a potential fine of about $1 million for environmental violations during the construction of his Mangaratiba mansion, as reported by Agence France-Presse.