Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil. His father, Neymar Santos Sr., was a former professional footballer and has been a significant influence in his son's career, serving as his advisor and helping guide him through professional decisions. Neymar has one sister, Rafaella Beckran. Details about his formal education are limited, though his rapid rise in football overshadowed traditional academic pursuits. He is also widely recognized for his distinctive and fashion-forward hairstyles, which have become part of his public persona.
Neymar began playing football at a very young age and joined Santos FC’s youth academy in 2003. By age 15, he was reportedly earning around $10,000 a month, which helped his family move into a new home. His income continued to rise, and by age 17, he secured his first sponsorship deal, further solidifying his status as an emerging star.
Neymar made his professional debut for Santos FC at the age of 17 in 2009, coming on as a substitute and scoring in a match that ended in victory for his team. In 2010, he exploded onto the scene with a four-goal performance in a Copa do Brasil match, drawing national attention. Throughout the tournament, he was instrumental in leading Santos to success and was honored as the best player of the series. In the same year, he declined a £12 million offer from an English Premier League club, believing better opportunities awaited him.
Neymar's growing prominence was recognized in 2011, when he won the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year and was named the South American Footballer of the Year. He repeated the latter achievement in 2012 and earned another Puskás Award nomination. That same year, he received the Golden Ball Award, among other honors. Throughout this time, Neymar openly expressed his desire to play for elite European clubs such as FC Barcelona.
| Birth Date: | 5 Feb, 1992 |
| Age: | 28 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player |
| Citizenship: | Brazil |
| Birth Place: | Mogi das Cruzes |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Brazilian association football player |
| Net Worth 2021: | 263 million |
