History of Neymar in Timeline
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.
1963: Santos' Copa Libertadores Triumph
Santos' last Copa Libertadores win before 2011 was in 1963, when Pelé was playing for the club.
February 1992: Neymar's Birth
In February 1992, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar, was born. He is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Santos and the Brazil national team.
2002: Brazil's World Cup Win
In 2014, Neymar was focal to Brazil reaching the semi-final, their best result since the 2002 win.
2003: Move to São Vicente and Santos
In 2003, Neymar moved with his family to São Vicente, where he played for Portuguesa Santista's youth side, then moved to Santos to join their team.
2003: Contract with Santos
In 2003, Neymar was offered a contract by Santos and inducted into their youth academy.
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.
September 2010: Penalty Dispute and Manager Sacking
On 15 September 2010, during a league match against Atlético Goianiense, Neymar argued with his manager, Dorival Júnior, after Júnior appointed another player to take a penalty. The board sided with Neymar and sacked the manager. Neymar later apologized.
November 2010: Sale of Future Transfer Fees
On 30 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).
December 2010: South American Footballer of the Year Nomination
In December 2010, Neymar came third for the 2010 South American Footballer of the Year, behind Andrés D'Alessandro and Juan Sebastián Verón.
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 speaks about being on the Brazilian team
On March 1, 2011, Neymar expressed his happiness about being part of the Brazilian team, acknowledging the privilege and the presence of marvelous players.
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: IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade
In 2011, Neymar received the South American Footballer of the Year twice and was runner-up for IFFHS's CONMEBOL The Best Man Player of the Decade (2011–2020) award, behind Messi. He was also named in the IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade (2011–2020).
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: Finished 10th in FIFA Ballon d'Or rankings
In 2011, Neymar, at 19 years old, finished 10th in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or rankings.
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: Yamal wears Santos jersey
In 2024, Lamine Yamal posted a photo on social media of him in a 2012 Santos jersey with Neymar's name and number 11.
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.
February 2013: Neymar on Time Magazine Cover as 'The Next Pelé'
In February 2013, Neymar appeared on the cover of Time magazine with the title 'The Next Pelé,' drawing comparisons to the legendary player.
February 2013: Time Magazine Cover
In February 2013, Neymar appeared on the cover of Time magazine, making him the first Brazilian athlete to do so. The issue included an article by Ghosh entitled "The Next Pelé".
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.
January 2014: Investigation of Barcelona transfer fee
In January 2014, the prosecutor's office in Madrid began investigating the transfer fee that Barcelona paid for Neymar, leading to Rosell's resignation and charges of tax fraud against Barcelona and Bartomeu.
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: Yamal Inspired by Neymar's Hairstyle
In 2025, young talent Lamine Yamal changed his hairstyle to blond and flat-down, which was widely noted for being inspired by Neymar's during the 2014 World Cup.
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: Elevated performance and Ballon d'Or nomination
In 2015, Neymar experienced a peak in his career, scoring multiple goals and providing assists. He was praised as being on the same level as Messi and Ronaldo and was shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or.
2015: Ballon d'Or Third Place Finish
In 2015, Neymar finished third for the Ballon d'Or during the Messi–Ronaldo dominance.
2015: Missed Super Cup games due to mumps
In 2015, Neymar missed the 2015 UEFA Super Cup and the 2015 Supercopa de España due to having the mumps. In Messi's absence, Neymar scored 13 goals and provided 9 assists in just 8 games.
2015: Champions League performance
Neymar played in the 2014–15 and 2015-16 Champions League.
2015: Copa del Rey Final win and unsporting conduct accusation
On May 30, 2015, Barcelona defeated Athletic Bilbao in the 2015 Copa del Rey Final, with Neymar scoring. He was accused of unsporting conduct for performing tricks with the ball in the final stages of the game.
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.
May 2016: Copa del Rey Final win and domestic double
On May 22, 2016, Neymar scored in Barcelona's 2–0 extra time win over Sevilla in the 2016 Copa del Rey Final. The club celebrated winning the domestic double for the second consecutive season.
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.
April 2017: Time 100 Inclusion
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 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.
August 2017: Barcelona files Lawsuit against Neymar
On August 27, 2017, Barcelona filed a lawsuit against Neymar, demanding the return of his contract renewal bonus and €8.5 million in damages.
2017: Stephen Curry Praises Neymar's Impact
In 2017, NBA star Stephen Curry noted that Neymar makes exciting plays whenever he is on the pitch, drawing parallels between their playing styles.
2017: Ballon d'Or and FIFA The Best Nominations
In 2017, Neymar finished third for the Ballon d'Or and third for the FIFA The Best Men's Player award.
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.
2017: Tuanzebe Claims Neymar Should Have Dominated Ballon d'Or
In 2025, Axel Tuanzebe, former Manchester United defender, stated that Neymar should have been the dominant force in the Ballon d’Or from 2017 onward.
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: Neymar Challenge and Criticism of Diving
During the 2018 World Cup, Neymar's dramatic dives led to the "Neymar Challenge" on social media, and he was criticized for exaggerating injuries. He later starred in a commercial acknowledging his theatrics and promising to improve.
2018: Maradona compares Neymar to Messi and Pelé
In 2018, Maradona stated that the gap between Messi and Neymar is comparable to the gap between himself and Pelé.
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.
July 2019: Absent from PSG training
In July 2019, Neymar was absent from training with PSG, leading to disciplinary action by the club. Neymar reportedly wanted to leave PSG, citing issues with referee protection, jealousy from teammates, lack of fan appreciation, and media bias.
July 2019: Rape Investigation Against Neymar Dropped
In July 2019, police closed the rape investigation against Neymar due to lack of evidence.
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.
2019: Neymar Named Best Brazilian Player Post-Pelé
In 2019, Neymar was recognized as the best Brazilian player since Pelé by the Brazilian sports magazine Placar.
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.
September 2020: Neymar Tests Positive for COVID-19
In September 2020, Neymar, along with PSG teammates, tested positive for COVID-19 after reportedly vacationing in Ibiza, leading to quarantine and testing of the team.
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: IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade
In 2011, Neymar received the South American Footballer of the Year twice and was runner-up for IFFHS's CONMEBOL The Best Man Player of the Decade (2011–2020) award, behind Messi. He was also named in the IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade (2011–2020).
2020: Forbes Ranking
In 2020, Forbes ranked Neymar as the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete, earning $95.5 million.
2020: PSG Loses to Bayern Munich in Champions League Final
In 2020, Neymar was widely expected to lead PSG to their first-ever Champions League title; however, the club lost to Bayern Munich in the final.
2020: Foden names Neymar toughest opponent
In 2021, Phil Foden stated that Neymar was the toughest opponent he faced during the 2020-21 season, expressing admiration and noting his ability to decide games.
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: De Paul calls Neymar toughest opponent
In 2021, Rodrigo De Paul claimed Neymar was the toughest opponent he has faced, especially during the Copa América final.
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: Jonathan Wilson Summarizes Neymar's Significance
In 2022, Jonathan Wilson of Sports Illustrated provided a summary of Neymar's importance and impact in football.
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: Brazilian Presidential Election Endorsement
In 2022, Neymar appeared in a TikTok video endorsing President Jair Bolsonaro for the Brazilian presidential election, receiving heavy criticism for his political stance.
2022: Neymar supports Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
In 2022, Neymar publically announced his support for the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 Brazilian general election.
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.
February 2023: Neymar Defends Himself After Fast-Food Incident
In February 2023, after PSG's loss to Bayern Munich, Neymar was seen in a fast-food restaurant and defended himself by saying, "It's my life, I do what I want."
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.
2023: Neymar Faces Fine for Environmental Violations
In 2023, Neymar potentially faced a $1 million fine for environmental violations during the construction of his Mangaratiba mansion, involving waterway diversion and unauthorized use of beach sand.
2023: Neymar Dubbed 'Prince Who Never Became King'
In 2023, following Neymar's move to Saudi Arabia, media outlets labeled him the 'Prince who never became King,' highlighting his failure to meet initial expectations.
2023: Neymar Suffers ACL and Meniscus Rupture
In October 2023, during Brazil's qualifying defeat to Uruguay, Neymar sustained a complete ACL and meniscus rupture in his left knee, requiring surgery and likely sidelining him for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
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.
December 2024: Neymar Expecting Fourth Child
In December 2024, Neymar announced that he is expecting his fourth child, a second daughter with the mother of his second child.
2024: Neymar Ruled Out of 2024 Copa América
Due to an ACL and meniscus rupture in October 2023, Neymar was ruled out of Brazil's squad for the 2024 Copa América.
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.
2024: Yamal posts a photo wearing a Neymar jersey
In 2024, Lamine Yamal posted a photo on social media of him in a 2012 Santos jersey with Neymar's name and number 11.
2024: Globe Soccer Player Career Award
In 2024, Neymar was honoured with the Globe Soccer Player Career Award.
2024: Buffon states Neymar should have won five Ballon d'Ors
In a 2024 interview, Gianluigi Buffon expressed that Neymar should have won at least five Ballon d'Or awards and praised him as more talented than Messi and Ronaldo.
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: Ronaldo includes Neymar in Top 10 greatest players
In a February 2025 interview with ESPN Brazil, Ronaldo (Brazilian) included Neymar in his personal top 10 greatest players ever, citing the World Cup as the only significant trophy missing from Neymar's illustrious career.
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: Tuanzebe Claims Neymar Should Have Dominated Ballon d'Or
In 2025, Axel Tuanzebe, former Manchester United defender, stated that Neymar should have been the dominant force in the Ballon d’Or from 2017 onward.
2025: Forbes Ranking
In 2025, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's 25th highest-paid athlete with earnings of $76 million.
2025: Yamal speaks highly of Neymar
In 2025, Lamine Yamal expressed that Neymar has always been his idol and a football legend.
2025: Butler Honors Neymar with Jersey Number
In 2025, NBA player Butler chose the No. 10 jersey as a tribute to Neymar and others after being traded to the Golden State Warriors.
2025: Poker Debt Allegation
In 2025, boxer Conor Benn alleged that Chris Eubank Jr. owed Neymar £4 million in poker debts at a pre-fight press conference.
2025: Neymar Responds to Claims of Not Reaching Expectations
In a 2025 interview, Neymar addressed claims that he didn't reach expected heights, citing injuries but affirming that he achieved many of his dreams.
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