Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, commonly known as Neymar Jr., is a Brazilian professional footballer who has made a significant impact on the global football scene. Born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, Neymar has achieved numerous milestones and accolades throughout his career, playing for clubs like Santos, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Brazil national team. Here is a timeline of his key events and milestones.
Main Milestones
Birth
February 5, 1992
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, to Neymar da Silva Sr. and Nadine Santos. His father, a former footballer, would later become his advisor as Neymar's talents began to grow.
Early Football Career
1999
At the age of 7, Neymar joined his first football club, Portuguesa Santista, marking the beginning of his professional football journey.
Santos FC Youth Academy
2003
Neymar joined the Santos FC youth academy at the age of 11, where he would develop his skills and eventually make his professional debut.
Professional Debut
2009
Neymar made his professional debut for Santos FC on March 7, 2009, at the age of 17, scoring his first goal against Mogi Mirim a week later.
International Debut
2010
Neymar debuted for the Brazil national team in 2010, starting a career that would see him become Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer.
Copa Libertadores Victory
2011
Neymar helped Santos win their first Copa Libertadores in nearly 50 years, scoring crucial goals in the tournament.
Transfer to Barcelona
2013
Neymar joined FC Barcelona, becoming part of the iconic attacking trio known as 'MSN' alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
UEFA Champions League Victory
2015
Neymar won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, scoring in the final against Juventus and becoming the first player to score in final victories in both the Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League.
Olympic Gold Medal
2016
Neymar captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men's football at the Rio 2016 Olympics, scoring the decisive penalty in the final against Germany.
Transfer to Paris Saint-Germain
2017
Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain for a record transfer fee of €222 million, becoming the most expensive player ever at the time.
Becoming Brazil's All-Time Leading Goalscorer
2023
Neymar surpassed Pelé to become Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals, cementing his legacy in Brazilian football.
Transfer to Al Hilal
2023
Neymar was sold to Al Hilal for €90 million, marking a new chapter in his career in the Saudi Pro League.
