Neymar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Neymar Jr.

Neymar at his Paris Saint-Germain presentation in August 2017.
Personal information
Full name	Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
Date of birth	5 February 1992 (1992-02-05)
Place of birth	Sao Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position	Forward / Winger
Club information
Current club	Paris Saint-Germain
Number	10
Youth career
1999–2003	Portuguesa Santista
2003–2009	Santos FC
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–2013	Santos FC	103	(54)
2013–2017	FC Barcelona	124	(69)
2017-	Paris Saint-Germain	14	(11)
National team
2009	Brazil U17	3	(1)
2011	Brazil U20	7	(9)
2012-2016	Brazil U23	14	(8)
2010–present	Brazil
Honours Competitor for Brazil Men's Football Silver 2012 London Team Competition
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, known as Neymar or Neymar Jr. (born 5 February 1992 in Magi das Cruz's, Brazil), is a Brazilian footballer that can play as a left or right Winger or as a Striker. He plays for the French team Paris Saint-Germain. He plays for the Brazil national football team at international level.

He has been compared to former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and also to Cristiano Ronaldo and Pelé.

Early Life

Neymar was born in São Paulo, Brazil. His father was a former footballer. In 2003, Neymar began playing for Portuguesa Santista. Later that year, He and his family moved to Santos, São Paulo, where he joined Santos FC. He signed his first professional contract at age 17.

Career

Neymar playing for Barcelona against Villarreal in La Liga, 1 February 2015. Neymar opened the scoring in Barcelona's 3–2 win.

Santos FC

Neymar joined Santos in 2003 and on March 7 2009, he made his debut for Santos at 17 years of age. He scored his first goal against Mogi Mirim, a week after his debut. On April 15 2010, Neymar scored five goals for Santos, beating Guarani 8-1 in the Brazilian Cup. Later, the club would win the cup. Neymar got red carded for wearing a mask in his goal celebration.

Brazil

After Neymar's performances for Brazil's U-17 team at the 2009 U-17 World Cup, on July 26 2010, Neymar was selected in the squad for the Brazil national team by new head coach Mano Menezes for a friendly match against USA on August 10 2010. He scored on his debut, in a 2–0 win for Brazil. On March 27 2011, he scored twice in a 2–0 win against Scotland at the Emirates Stadium.

FC Barcelona

In the summer of 2013, Neymar was bought by the Spanish club FC Barcelona for 57 million euros.

Paris Saint-Germain

In August 2017, he was bought by the French club Paris Saint-Germain for a world record-breaking €222 million, making him the most expensive transfer of all time.

Club statistics

Club	Season	League			Cup		League Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Santos	2009	Série A	32	10	3	1	—		—		12	3	47	14
	2010		31	17	8	11	—		2	0	19	14	60	42
	2011		21	13	—		—		13	6	13	5	47	24
	2012		17	14	—		—		14	9	16	20	47	43
	2013		1	0	4	1	—		—		18	12	23	13
	Total		102	54	15	13	—		29	15	78	54	224	136
Barcelona	2013–14	La Liga	26	9	3	1	—		10	4	2	1	41	15
	2014–15		33	22	6	7	—		12	10	—		51	39
	2015–16		34	24	5	4	—		9	3	1	0	49	31
	2016–17		30	13	6	3	—		9	4	0	0	45	20
	Total		123	68	20	15	—		40	21	3	1	186	105
Paris Saint-Germain	2017–18	Ligue 1	14	11	1	2	1	1	6	6	—		22	20
	Total		14	11	1	2	1	1	6	6	—		22	20
Career total			239	133	36	30	1	1	75	42	81	55	432	261

International statistics

National Team	Year	Apps	Goals
Brazil	2010	2	1
	2011	13	7
	2012	12	9
	2013	19	10
	2014	14	15
	2015	9	4
	2016	6	4
	2017	8	3
Total		83	53

Awards

Neymar with the Golden Ball award for best player at the 2013 Confederations Cup.

Neymar expresses his Christian faith after winning the gold medal with Brazil at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Club

Santos

• Copa do Brasil : 2010, 2011, 2012
• Campeonato Paulista : 2010
• Copa Libertadores: 2011

Barcelona

• UEFA Champions League: 2014-15
• La Liga: 2014-15, 2015-16
• Copa del Rey: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2015

Brazil

• South American Youth Championship : 2011
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013
• Olympic Silver Medal: 2012
• Olympic Gold Medal: 2016

Individual

• South American Footballer of the Year: 2011, 2012
• FIFA Puskás Award: 2011
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2015

Images for kids

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  Neymar playing for Santos against Barcelona in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final.

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  Neymar at a press conference for the Brazil national team in 2010.

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  Neymar celebrates his goal for Brazil against Scotland, on 27 March 2011, with André Santos and Ramires.

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  Neymar preparing to take a free-kick against Belarus at Old Trafford during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

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  Neymar playing against Spain's Gerard Piqué in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Final.

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  Neymar prepares to take a free kick during Brazil's opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Croatia.

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  Neymar evading a tackle against Mexico at the 2014 World Cup.

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  Neymar preparing to strike the winning penalty kick for Brazil against Germany in the Olympic final.

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  Neymar (right) greets future teammate Lionel Messi after the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup Final. As a teenager, Neymar was inspired by Messi.

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  Neymar, playing for Brazil in 2011, has been compared to compatriots Pelé and Ronaldinho.

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  Neymar at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey during a match between the New York Red Bulls and the LA Galaxy.

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  Neymar playing for Brazil against Ecuador in 2016, a game where he scored once

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  Neymar during his unveiling at Barcelona in June 2013.