Neymar's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Neymar.

Neymar Jr., a Brazilian professional footballer, is renowned for his exceptional dribbling, technical skills, playmaking, and finishing. Widely considered one of the greatest players ever, he currently captains Santos and plays for the Brazil national team. Neymar is among the elite few to have scored 100 goals for three different clubs. He is the all-time Brazilian top goalscorer and assist provider in the UEFA Champions League. Moreover, he ranks second among South American men's top goalscorers in international football. With over 400 senior career goals and 250 assists, Neymar's impact on the sport is undeniable.

Sections (7)

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

2006: Kaká last player besides Messi and Ronaldo to top Champions League scoring list

In 2006-07, Kaká was the last player before Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo to top the Champions League scoring list.

May 2010: Copa do Brasil Victory

In May 2010, Neymar scored a goal in the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals victory over Atletico-MG. He also scored in the first leg of the finals against Vitória, contributing to Santos winning the Copa do Brasil for the first time and finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals.

December 2010: South American Footballer of the Year

In December 2010, Neymar came third for the 2010 South American Footballer of the Year, showcasing his growing recognition in South American football.

2010: Continued Development and Campeonato Paulista Win

In 2010, Neymar continued his rapid development, scoring five goals in a match against Guarani. He also won the Campeonato Paulista, scoring 14 goals in the tournament, and was named the best player.

July 2011: First Goals of Campeonato Brasileiro

In July 2011, Neymar scored his first goals of that year's Campeonato Brasileiro, with his first goal winning the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award.

2011: FIFA Ballon d'Or Ranking

Early in 2012, reflecting on the previous year, Neymar finished 10th in the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or rankings.

2011: Campeonato Paulista and Copa Libertadores Wins

In 2011, Neymar scored crucial goals, including the winning goal in the Campeonato Paulista finals against Corinthians, helping Santos win back-to-back state titles. He also scored six goals during Santos' run to win the 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals, the first since 1963.

2011: IFFHS Award Runner-Up

In 2011, Neymar was runner-up for the IFFHS's CONMEBOL The Best Man Player of the Decade (2011–2020) award.

2011: Neymar shines at South American Youth Championship and Copa América

In 2011, Neymar was the leading goalscorer of the South American Youth Championship with nine goals, including two in the final. He also scored two goals in the Copa América against Ecuador.

2011: Copa Libertadores Win

In 2011, Neymar won the Copa Libertadores with Santos, scoring in the finals and contributing to a significant achievement for the club.

2011: South American Footballer of the Year Award

In 2011, Neymar won the South American Footballer of the Year award for the first time, recognizing his outstanding performance and following in the footsteps of legendary players.

2011: Neymar recounts performance for Santos against Flamengo

In 2019, 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 a collaboration with DAZN.

February 2012: 100th Career Goal

In February 2012, specifically on February 5 when he turned 20, Neymar scored his 100th goal as a professional football player in a match against Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista.

2012: Neymar ranked among world's richest players

In 2012, France Football ranked Neymar 13th in its list of the world's richest players, with total earnings of $18.8 million for the previous 12 months.

2012: Olympic Silver Medal

In 2012, Neymar helped Brazil reach the final at the Summer Olympics in men's football, where they received the Olympic silver medal.

2012: Campeonato Paulista Win and Copa Libertadores Performance

In 2012, Neymar scored twice in both legs of the Campeonato Paulista Finals against Guarani, winning the championship with Santos. He was also the joint top scorer in the Copa Libertadores, where Santos was eventually beaten by Corinthians.

2012: Pelé claims Neymar is the best; other players comment

In 2012, Pelé stated that Neymar was the best player, which Diego Maradona countered by suggesting Messi was on another level. Neymar himself acknowledged Messi's superiority and inspiration. Ronaldo praised Neymar's talent, while Zico compared him to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.

February 2013: Neymar on Time magazine cover

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 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: Neymar named most marketable athlete

On 8 May 2013, SportsPro magazine named Neymar the most marketable athlete in the world, ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. The same month, Neymar launched the Nike Hypervenom football boot.

2013: Neymar's Debut and Supercopa Win with Barcelona

During the 2013 La Liga season's opening game, Neymar debuted for Barcelona as a substitute. On August 21, 2013, he played in the Supercopa de España, scoring his first goal for the club, which secured the trophy for Barcelona.

2013: Golden Ball for player of the tournament

In 2013, Neymar received the Golden Ball for player of the tournament and finished in 5th place for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or, marking a significant achievement in his career.

October 2014: Neymar scored four goals in one game against Japan

In October 2014, Neymar scored four goals in one game for the first time in his international career, scoring all of Brazil's goals in a 4–0 friendly win against Japan at the National Stadium, Singapore.

2014: Unanimously expected to win the Ballon d'Or

Early in his career, particularly after his stellar 2014-15 season with Barcelona at 23 years old, Neymar was unanimously expected to win the Ballon d'Or at some point in his career.

2014: FIFA World Cup Dream Team and Bronze Boot

In 2014, Neymar was named in the Dream Team and received the Bronze Boot at the FIFA World Cup, recognizing his performance in the tournament.

2014: Treble Win with Barcelona

In 2014, Neymar won the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League with Barcelona. He was the top goalscorer in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey that season.

2014: Neymar shortlisted for FIFA Ballon d'Or

In 2014, several journalists argued that Neymar deserved to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or, highlighting his importance in the crucial stages of the 2014–15 Champions League and during Messi's absence in the first half of 2015–16. He came in third place.

March 2015: Neymar has fourth highest social media rank

In March 2015, Neymar had the fourth highest social media rank in the world among sportspeople, with 52 million Facebook fans.

2015: Neymar's performance and Ballon d'Or nomination

In 2015, Neymar achieved a high level of performance, scoring multiple goals in various matches, including four against Rayo Vallecano and a notable goal against Villarreal. He was praised as one of the best players in the world and was shortlisted for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

2015: Ballon d'Or Finish

In 2015, Neymar finished third in the Ballon d'Or rankings, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

2015: Barcelona wins La Liga and Copa del Rey

On May 17, 2015, Barcelona secured the league title with a win over Atlético Madrid. On May 30, 2015, they defeated Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey Final, with Neymar scoring. His ball tricks during the game were deemed unsporting by the opponent.

May 2016: Neymar scores in Copa del Rey Final

On May 22, 2016, Neymar scored in Barcelona's Copa del Rey Final win over Sevilla, celebrating a domestic double. The attacking trio of Messi, Suárez, and Neymar broke their previous record for most goals in a season. Neymar reached over 30 goals for the second consecutive season, scoring 31.

2016: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2016, Neymar captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men's football at the Summer Olympics.

2016: Neymar ranked fourth most famous athlete in the world

In ESPN's list of active sportspeople in 2016, Neymar was ranked the fourth most famous athlete in the world.

March 2017: Heroic role in La Remontada

On 8 March 2017, Neymar played a crucial role in Barcelona's historic 6-1 victory against PSG in the Champions League round of 16, known as 'La Remontada'. With Barcelona trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the 88th minute, Neymar scored a free-kick and a penalty, and provided the assist for 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.

April 2017: Neymar included in Time 100

In April 2017, Neymar was included in the Time 100, Time magazine's list of the most influential people in the world.

August 2017: Neymar's €222 million transfer to PSG

On 3 August 2017, Neymar's legal representatives paid Barcelona €222 million, activating his release clause and making it the most expensive transfer in football history. La Liga initially refused the payment, citing Financial Fair Play concerns.

2017: Axel Tuanzebe claimed that Neymar should have won all the Ballon d’Ors from 2017 onwards.

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe claimed that Neymar should have won all the Ballon d’Ors from 2017 onwards

2017: Third place in Ballon d'Or and FIFA The Best Mens Player awards

In 2017, Neymar finished in third place in the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA The Best Mens Player awards.

2017: Ballon d'Or Finish

In 2017, Neymar finished third in the Ballon d'Or rankings, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

2017: 100th Goal for Barcelona

In 2017, Neymar had multiple milestones including surpassing Ronaldinho's goal tally with Barcelona on 11 February, scoring his 95th goal in 169 matches. On 2 April, Neymar scored his 100th goal for Barcelona, achieving it in 177 appearances during a 4-1 win over Granada. On 15 May, he also scored his first away hat-trick for Barcelona in a 4-1 victory against Las Palmas. On 27 May, Neymar scored in the 2017 Copa del Rey Final, his 105th goal for the club, in Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Alavés.

2017: Record Transfer to Paris Saint-Germain

In 2017, Neymar left Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after his €222 million release clause was activated, making him the most expensive player in history.

June 2018: International comeback and goal scoring

In June 2018, Neymar made his international comeback, scoring a goal in a 2–0 win over Croatia in a friendly match at Anfield. Later that week, he became Brazil's joint-third highest goalscorer.

August 2018: Neymar scores opening league goal and contributes to wins

In August 2018, Neymar played a pivotal role for PSG. On August 12th, he scored the opening league goal in a 3–0 victory against Caen. He then scored from a penalty in a 3–1 win against Guingamp. On August 25th, Neymar, Mbappé, and Cavani each scored in a 3–1 win over Angers, with Neymar scoring off Mbappé's assist and setting up Cavani's goal.

2018: Neymar ranked third-highest-paid footballer

In 2018, France Football ranked Neymar the third-highest-paid footballer in the world, earning a total income for €81.5m ($95m) for the year.

October 2019: Played 100th match for Brazil

On 10 October 2019, Neymar played his 100th match for Brazil in a friendly draw 1–1 with Senegal in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in his international career.

2019: Neymar ranked the world's fourth most famous athlete

In 2019, ESPN again ranked Neymar the world's fourth most famous athlete.

2019: Neymar ranked world's third-highest-paid athlete by Forbes

In 2019, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's third-highest-paid athlete with earnings of $105 million for the year.

October 2020: Hat-trick and surpassed Ronaldo

In October 2020, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru. He surpassed Ronaldo as the nation's second highest goalscorer of all time.

2020: Neymar ranked world's fourth-highest-paid athlete by Forbes

In 2020, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete with earnings of $95.5 million for the year.

2020: IFFHS Award Runner-Up

In 2020, Neymar was runner-up for the IFFHS's CONMEBOL The Best Man Player of the Decade (2011–2020) award.

January 2021: Neymar scores winning goal in Trophée des Champions

In January 2021, Neymar scored the winning goal from a penalty in a 2–1 victory over Marseille in the Trophée des Champions on January 13th. He later sustained a left adductor injury in a cup win over Caen on February 10th, ruling him out for four weeks.

June 2021: Scored and assisted in Copa América

In June 2021, during Brazil's opening group match of the 2021 Copa América, Neymar scored a goal from the penalty spot and assisted another. He played a key role throughout the competition, assisting goals in multiple matches.

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

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

2021: Neymar ranked world's fourth-highest-paid athlete by Forbes

In 2021, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's fourth-highest-paid athlete with earnings of $95 million for the year.

2021: Copa América Best Player

In 2021, Neymar was jointly awarded Best Player at the Copa América, where Brazil finished as runners-up.

February 2022: Neymar returns from injury and scores against Nantes

In February 2022, Neymar returned from an ankle injury on February 15th in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, assisting Mbappé's winning goal. On February 19th, he made his first league start of 2022 against Nantes, scoring a goal but missing a penalty in a 3–1 loss.

2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru

In October 2020, Neymar scored a hat-trick in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Peru, which Brazil won 4–2.

2022: Neymar ranked fourth highest-paid athlete of 2022

Sportico named Neymar the fourth highest-paid athlete of 2022.

September 2023: Neymar became Brazil's top goalscorer

On 8 September 2023, Neymar scored twice for Brazil and became the national team's top goalscorer ahead of Pelé. He scored his 78th and 79th goals in his 125th appearance for Brazil.

2023: Neymar ranked world's twelfth-highest-paid athlete by Forbes

In 2023, Forbes ranked Neymar the world's twelfth-highest-paid athlete with earnings of $85 million for the year.

October 2024: Neymar returns to action and receives Player Career Award

In October 2024, Neymar returned to action for Al Hilal and also suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. At the end of 2024, Neymar was named as one of the three winners of the Player Career Award at the Globe Soccer Awards.