Neymar's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Neymar.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known as Neymar, is a highly acclaimed Brazilian professional footballer. He excels as a left winger, attacking midfielder, and forward, currently playing for Santos and captaining the Brazil national team. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players, Neymar is celebrated for his speed, dribbling skills, technical ability, playmaking, and finishing. A significant influence on emerging footballers, he holds the record for Brazil's all-time top goalscorer and is the joint all-time top assist provider in international football, having scored over 400 goals and provided over 300 assists.
2006: Kaka tops the competition's scoring list
On June 6, 2015, Neymar scored the third goal for Barça in the 3–1 Champions League Final defeat of Italian champions Juventus. He was the first player apart from Messi and Ronaldo to top the competition's scoring list, since compatriot Kaká in 2006–07.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
2012: Olympic Silver Medal
In 2012, Neymar won a silver medal at the Summer Olympics.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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: 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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
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: Sportico Ranking
In 2022, Sportico named Neymar the fourth highest-paid athlete of the year.
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.
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: Globe Soccer Player Career Award
In 2024, Neymar was honoured with the Globe Soccer Player Career 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.
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.
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