Neymar Jr. is one of the most famous Brazilian footballers of the modern era. From Santos to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Al-Hilal, and back to Brazil, his career has mixed genius, pressure, trophies, injuries, controversy, and unforgettable moments.
Born in São Paulo state and raised through Santos FC, Neymar became the symbol of a new Brazilian football generation. His dribbling, creativity, and confidence made him a global star, while his story with the Brazilian national team turned him into one of the most debated players in the country.
So, how did the boy from Santos become one of Brazil’s biggest football icons? Let’s follow Neymar’s journey.
Before we follow Neymar’s story, here are the quick facts about one of Brazil’s most famous footballers.
| Fact | Answer |
| Full name | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior |
| Born | February 5, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil |
| Position | Forward / winger |
| Current club | Santos FC |
| Brazil record | Brazil men’s all-time top scorer |
Born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was destined to be a football star. His talent was evident from an early age, dazzling on futsal courts before making the transition to the field. At just 11 years old, he joined Santos FC’s youth academy, where his dribbling skills, creativity, and flair made him a standout player.
As Neymar tore through the youth ranks at Santos, comparisons to Pelé, the club’s greatest legend, were inevitable. With his daring runs, audacious skills, and love for spectacular goals, Neymar embodied the essence of Brazilian football—ginga, improvisation, and joy.
👉 Want to learn more about Santos? Check out our Dica!
Neymar plays football with the style Brazil loves most: creativity, improvisation, and a little bit of chaos.
At his best, he is a dribbler, creator, goalscorer, and entertainer. He can start on the left wing, move inside like a number 10, combine quickly with teammates, or slow the game down before suddenly attacking a defender.
His game is built on close control, tricks, quick changes of direction, and confidence. That is why many Brazilians connect him with ginga, the rhythm and flair often associated with Brazilian football. Neymar’s style is not always simple, and not everyone loves the drama around him. But when he is inspired, he can make football feel like a show.
Have you ever watched Neymar dribble past a defender and wondered how he makes it look so easy?
Well, Brazilians have a special word for that kind of movement: ginga!
Ginga is often associated with rhythm, body movement, creativity, and improvisation.
The word also has an important connection with capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian cultural practice that combines movement, music, and martial arts.
In football, ginga is commonly used to describe a playful, unpredictable style of movement.
Think about a player changing direction, moving their shoulders, and confusing defenders before suddenly accelerating toward the goal.
That’s the kind of football many Brazilians love!
Neymar became famous for his ability to combine speed, balance, and imagination.
Some of his most recognizable moves include:
Of course, Neymar didn’t invent these moves!
Brazilian football has a long tradition of creative players, including Garrincha, Pelé, Ronaldinho, and many others.
But Neymar helped bring that playful style to a new generation of football fans.
And remember: in Brazil, a beautiful dribble can sometimes receive almost as much applause as a goal!
At just 17 years old, Neymar debuted for Santos FC’s first team in 2009, quickly capturing global attention. The comparisons with Pelé were constant, and the parallels between their careers undeniable. Neymar’s incredible performances led Santos to multiple titles:
His magical goal against Flamengo in 2011, dribbling past defenders as if they were training cones, won the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year. See the goal:
But his 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the 2011 Club World Cup final proved a pivotal moment. While it showcased Neymar’s immense talent, it also highlighted the gap between South American and European football. Realizing he needed to compete at the highest level to become the best, Neymar set his sights on Europe. By the time he left Santos, he was already a national hero.
While his skills made him a football superstar, Neymar’s charisma and marketability turned him into a global brand. His infectious smile, ever-changing hairstyles, teenage appeal, and Brazil’s vast internal market made him a marketing goldmine. He signed multimillion-dollar sponsorship deals with Nike, Red Bull, Gillette, Beats by Dre, and many others. His social media following skyrocketed, cementing his status as one of the world’s most followed athletes.
By 21, Neymar had already built a legacy that extended beyond the pitch—but the world knew he was destined for something even bigger…
During Neymar’s early years at Santos, many Brazilians started calling him Menino Ney. In Portuguese, menino means “boy,” so the nickname has the feeling of “Kid Ney”: the young player dazzling Brazil with skill, confidence, and joy.
Over time, the nickname became more than a reference to his age. Menino Ney also came to represent Neymar’s playful personality, his connection with Brazilian pop culture, and the unpredictable figure fans either love, criticize, or turn into memes.
In 2013, Neymar joined FC Barcelona in a controversial transfer. Despite the legal disputes surrounding his signing, his impact on the field was undeniable. Teaming up with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, he formed the legendary MSN trio, one of the deadliest attacking partnerships in football history.
His peak at Barcelona came in 2015 when he led the club to a historic treble, winning the Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey. He even scored in the Champions League final against Juventus, securing Barça’s fifth European title. His dazzling dribbling and crucial goals positioned him as Messi’s heir.
👉 Did you know that Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, also shined at Barcelona? Check out our Dicas to learn more about them!
One of the most amusing aspects of Neymar’s career at Barcelona (which continued at PSG) was his uncanny habit of missing games around his sister Rafaella’s birthday on March 11th. Whether due to conveniently timed injuries or suspensions, his annual absence fueled speculation and became a running joke among fans and analysts.
In 2017, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) shocked the world by paying €222 million, making Neymar the most expensive footballer in history. The move to France was meant to establish him as the world’s best player, stepping out of Messi’s shadow.
Though he dominated Ligue 1 and won multiple league titles, injuries and off-field controversies affected his legacy. Despite forming another super trio with Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, PSG failed to win the coveted Champions League title, and Neymar’s European dream began to fade.
In 2023, Neymar made a surprising move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, lured by a massive financial offer. His decision sparked debates about football’s top stars prioritizing money over competition. Unfortunately, injuries plagued his time there, preventing him from making a significant impact.
Some football stories seem written for a movie. And Neymar’s return to Santos is definitely one of them!
In January 2025, after more than a decade playing abroad, Neymar returned to the Brazilian club where he first became famous.
But this wasn’t the same Neymar who left Brazil in 2013.
After playing alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona, becoming the world’s most expensive footballer at PSG, and facing serious injuries during his time at Al-Hilal, Neymar returned home with a very different challenge.
This time, it wasn’t just about winning trophies. It was about rebuilding his career, recovering his physical condition, and reconnecting with the supporters who had watched him grow up.
Santos FC is one of Brazil’s most historic football clubs. It is also the team where Pelé became a global legend.
For Neymar, Santos represents his beginnings: the first professional matches, the spectacular dribbles, the unforgettable goals, and the 2011 Copa Libertadores victory.
In 2026, Neymar extended his contract with Santos until the end of the year, continuing a comeback that attracted enormous attention in Brazilian football.
But returning to your childhood club doesn’t mean everything will be easy!
Injuries, expectations, and the pressure to perform remained important challenges.
For many supporters, however, seeing Neymar wearing the famous black-and-white shirt again was already something special.
By the time he returned to Santos, Neymar had already built one of the most impressive careers in Brazilian football. His biggest achievements include:
Despite his club achievements, Neymar’s relationship with the Brazilian national team has been a rollercoaster:
Neymar and Pelé are two of the biggest names in Brazilian football history.
But here’s a question that often creates debates among football fans: who scored more goals for Brazil?
The answer depends on how the goals are counted!
In September 2023, Neymar scored twice against Bolivia and surpassed Pelé’s record according to FIFA’s criteria for senior international matches between national teams.
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Neymar | 79 (as of September 2023) |
| Pelé | 77 |
| Ronaldo | 62 |
| Romário | 56 |
| Zico | 48 |
Historical FIFA figures based on matches between senior national teams. Neymar subsequently added to his international record.
But there’s an interesting detail!
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has historically used a broader method of counting certain matches, including games against clubs and selected teams. Under those criteria, Pelé has a higher total.
So, when comparing football records, it’s always important to check which matches are included.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was one of the most emotional chapters of Neymar’s international career.
At 34 years old, the Brazilian star was no longer the young football prodigy who had arrived at the 2014 World Cup carrying an entire nation’s hopes.
After years of injuries and uncertainty, many fans wondered whether he would ever play for Brazil at another World Cup.
Then came the surprise!
In May 2026, Brazil’s coach Carlo Ancelotti included Neymar in the national team’s World Cup squad.
The decision marked his return to the Seleção after a long absence and gave him the opportunity to participate in his fourth World Cup.
Neymar made his first appearance at the 2026 tournament during Brazil’s 3–0 victory against Scotland.
Brazil then defeated Japan in the Round of 32, before facing Norway in the Round of 16.
Unfortunately for Brazilian supporters, the dream of a sixth World Cup title ended there.
Norway defeated Brazil 2–1, eliminating the Seleção from the competition.
Neymar appeared as a substitute against Norway and scored Brazil’s goal, but it wasn’t enough to prevent elimination.
For fans who had followed him since his teenage years at Santos, the tournament was another emotional moment in a career filled with extraordinary highs and painful disappointments.
Would this be his last World Cup?
Only time will tell. But his place in Brazilian football history is already secure.
👉 Want to learn more about Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad? Check out our Dica!
But Neymar still brings something different: memory, fear, creativity, and magic. Even in the final minutes of a match, one pass, one dribble, or one free kick from Neymar can change everything.
For Brazilian fans, his presence in 2026 is emotional. It is one final chance to see one of Brazil’s most talented players wearing the yellow shirt at a World Cup, chasing the only trophy missing from his story.
Neymar’s unfinished business with the Seleção keeps fans hoping he can still bring a World Cup home. If you want to know the list of Brazil’s top scorers and the best Brazilian players in history read our Dica here.
Neymar is undoubtedly one of the most talented footballers Brazil has produced in recent decades. But here’s something interesting: not every Brazilian is a Neymar fan!
Wait, what? How can one of Brazil’s greatest football stars be so controversial in his own country?
Well, being a football superstar in Brazil comes with enormous expectations. And Neymar has experienced both the love and criticism of millions of Brazilians throughout his career.
Let’s understand why!
In Brazil, wearing the famous number 10 jersey is a big responsibility.
After legends like Pelé, Zico, and Ronaldinho, Neymar became the face of a new generation of Brazilian football.
Many supporters expected him to lead Brazil to its sixth World Cup title. However, despite his individual achievements, that dream never came true during his World Cup appearances.
For some fans, Neymar’s incredible talent deserved even greater international success. Others argue that judging an entire career by World Cup victories is unfair.
After all, football is a team sport!
Another reason Neymar divides opinions is his behavior on the pitch.
Throughout his career, he has been criticized for exaggerating contact with opponents and falling dramatically during matches.
Remember the 2018 World Cup? Neymar’s reactions to tackles became the subject of countless memes around the world!
However, his supporters point out that his dribbling style also makes him a frequent target of aggressive challenges.
And there’s another important factor: injuries.
Repeated physical problems have interrupted important periods of his career, especially during his time at Al-Hilal and his return to Santos.
Some fans express frustration about his availability, while others emphasize the difficulties of recovering from serious injuries.
Neymar’s life outside the pitch has also attracted enormous media attention.
His relationships, parties, social media posts, advertising campaigns, and public statements frequently become topics of discussion in Brazil.
His political endorsements have also generated disagreement among fans with different views.
For some Brazilians, Neymar represents success, charisma, and the dream of a young footballer who became a global superstar.
For others, certain public decisions and controversies have affected how they perceive him.
And in the age of social media, every interview, celebration, and Instagram post can become national news!
The answer is: it depends on who you ask!
Some Brazilians consider Neymar one of the most gifted players of his generation. Others admire his football skills but criticize aspects of his public behavior or career decisions.
And many simply enjoy watching him play without paying much attention to his personal life.
One thing is certain: Neymar has been a major figure in Brazilian football culture for more than a decade.
Whether people are celebrating his goals or debating his latest headlines, he continues to inspire conversations across the country.
Love him or hate him, Neymar is one of Brazil’s greatest players. In Brazil, he has always carried two things at the same time: admiration and criticism.
Fans love the dribbles, the goals, the creativity, and the feeling that something impossible might happen when he touches the ball. But they also criticize the injuries, the controversies, the drama, and the feeling that his career could have been even greater.
For a closer look at this complicated public image, you can also watch Neymar: The Perfect Chaos on Netflix, a documentary series about the highs and lows of his life and career.
This pressure is part of Neymar’s story. He was never just another talented player. He was asked to be Brazil’s next Pelé, the leader of the Seleção, the face of a generation, and the player who would bring the World Cup back.
His return to Santos is part of that legacy, but Neymar’s story is bigger than one club, one transfer, or one tournament. Some say Brazil no longer produces players like him: the street-style genius, the dribbler, the showman, the last magician of the ball.
Maybe Neymar still has one final great chapter left with Santos or Brazil. Maybe the biggest trophies are already behind him. But one thing is certain: with Neymar, football is never boring.
Click on the links below to see more related Dicas
Brazilian Football History
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CEO and Founder of Rio & Learn Portuguese School.
A visionary leader and innovative marketer, Albert has over two decades of experience in brand management, marketing strategy, educational leadership and everything around Brazil. As the CEO of Rio&Learn, he transformed Portuguese language education, creating immersive and culturally rich learning experiences for foreign students.
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3 Responses
I believe you can get the worl cup home for Brazil
Oi Tom!! We are full of hopes and dreams this year. Funny enough, the previous times we won World Cups, the other teams did not believe in Brazil so much, and we showed them who we were. Let’s make it once again! Vai Brasil!!!
Cool idea I believe you can get the worl cup home for Brazil