Neymar
da Silva Santos Júnior
Brazil
·
Soccer (Football)
Date of birth | February 5, 1992 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo |
Age | 34 |
Nationality | Brazil |
Career start | 2003 |
Disciplines | Soccer (standard) |
By the age of 10, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr, better known to the world as Neymar Jr, was already considered a rising star in the football world. Now, in his 30s, he's widely recognised as one of the greatest players of the modern era.
A talented teenager
A São Paulo state native, in 2003 Neymar Jr started his career with the São Paulo-based giants of Brazilian football, Santos, and was promoted to the first team in 2009 at just 17. It took him just a week to net his first senior goal with the team and not much longer before he was being compared to Brazilian legends like Robinho and Pelé.
Scoring within 28 minutes on his debut for the national team in 2010 did much to cement his place as the next global hero of the Seleção.
During his time in Brazil, Neymar Jr enjoyed plenty of success, helping Santos win the Copa do Brasil in 2010 and the Copa Libertadores in 2011.
Success in Europe
It was obvious that it wouldn't be long before one of the giants of Europe came calling for Neymar Jr's signature and, at the age of 21, it was Barcelona who whisked him off to La Liga in 2013.
There, he delivered on his promise to become one of the world's greatest players and terrorised La Liga defences as part of the 'MSN' trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez as Barca won back-to-back La Liga and Copa del Rey doubles in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
After netting 105 goals for Barcelona, in August 2017, French football's glamour team, Paris Saint-Germain, smashed the world transfer record to sign Neymar Jr and he made an immediate impression.
In his debut campaign, he helped the French side win a domestic treble and was named the Ligue 1 player of the year, and despite increasing injury problems in the following years played a key role in four more league titles and PSG reaching their first Champions League final in 2019–20.
Returning home to Brazil
A short, injury-ruined spell at the Saudi Pro League followed, but in January 2025 Neymar Jr's career came full circle as he moved back home to boyhood club Santos in Brazil's Série A.
Delighting the legions of fans who saw him light up the club as a teenager, he's aiming to win more trophies with the Brazilian giants.
2026 World Cup call-up
In May, 2026, following a strong run of form at Santos, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti announced that Neymar Jr had been called up to the Brazil squad for the upcoming World Cup, saying: "With Neymar, we only need to assess his physical condition, because his talent is beyond question."
It will be Neymar Jr's fourth appearance on football's biggest stage, having previously represented his country at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 tournaments. With 79 goals from 128 caps, he is already Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, and he'll be hoping he can help lead them to a first World Cup trophy since 2002.
Neymar Jr's new series on YouTube: "I will show you everything"
Now back in Brazil, Neymar Jr has also decided that the time is right to give fans a unique insight into his life both on and off the football pitch.
For the first time, the player tells his own story in a new series on his YouTube channel – from his perspective, focusing on his affectionate relationships with his wife, Bruna Biancardi, and his children, as well as details of his daily life as a footballer.
"I wanted to say so many things… ", Neymar Jr says. "But this will be good because I’ll be able to tell you some realities and truths about what I really think in the moment.”
Neymar Jr has been called up to the Brazil 2026 World Cup squad
© Diego Sanches/Red Bull Content Pool
Taking a break during a training session
© Fabio Piva/Red Bull Content Pool
Enjoying a kickabout with Xavi Simons
© Fabio Piva/Red Bull Content Pool
The Brazilian superstar is back playing for his boyhood club Santos
© Diego Sanches/Red Bull Content Pool