Neymar facts for kids
![]() Neymar at his Paris Saint-Germain presentation in August 2017.
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Personal information | ||||||||||||
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Full name | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior |
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Date of birth | 5 February 1992 | |||||||||||
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
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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.
Contents
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

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 | |||||||
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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 |
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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

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 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 (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.