Neymar

Personal information
Full name	Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior [1]
Date of birth	(1992-02-05) 5 February 1992 (age 20)[1]
Place of birth	Sao Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Playing position	Winger, Forward
Club information
Current club	Santos
Number	11
Youth career
2003–2009	Santos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–	Santos	85	(40)
National team‡
2009	Brazil U17	3	(1)
2011	Brazil U20	7	(9)
2010–	Brazil	17	(9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 May 2012

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (born 5 February 1992), commonly known simply as Neymar (Portuguese pronunciation: [nejˈmaʁ]), also known by his shirt name Neymar Jr., or by the nickname Neymohawk, by his haircut style, is a Brazilian footballer who plays in the Brasileirão Série A for Santos and the Brazilian national football team, mainly as a forward.

On 30 December 2010, Neymar came third behind Andrés D'Alessandro and Juan Sebastián Verón for the 2010 South American Footballer of the Year; however, a year later, on 31 December 2011, he won the 2011 South American Footballer of the Year award for the first time, by a record margin.^[2] Neymar received nominations for the FIFA Ballon d'Or and FIFA Puskás Award in 2011, where he came 10th for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or award and won the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award for scoring a sensational solo goal in the Brasileirão Série A against Flamengo.^[3] He is known for his acceleration, speed, dribbling, finishing in front of goal and technical ability. His playing style has earned him critical acclaim, with fans, media and former player's drawing comparisons to FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Brazil legend Pelé, who has declared Neymar as "an excellent player".^[4]

Neymar joined Santos in 2003 and, after several years of training, was promoted to their first team squad. He made his debut on 7 March 2009 in the Série A, in which he quickly made his breakthrough, becoming a first team regular and being voted the Best Young Player of the 2009 Campeonato Paulista. Further honours followed, with Neymar being voted best player as Santos won the 2010 Campeonato Paulista, and also being top scorer in the 2010 Copa do Brasil with 11 goals. Neymar finished the 2010 season with 42 goals in 60 games as his club achieved the Double. Neymar was again voted best player of the year in 2011 as his side retained the league title, Santos also winning the 2011 Copa Libertadores in which Neymar scored 6 goals in 13 appearances, making him the best player of the competition. He also played a key role in securing a Continental Double for his team, Santos' first since 1963. A final honour was bestowed on him as he received the Bronze Ball in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, with Santos making it to the final, where they were defeated by Spanish club FC Barcelona, 4–0.^[5][6]

Neymar is a Brazilian international, having represented Brazil at Under-17, Under-20 and senior levels. On 10 August 2010, at the age of 18, he made his debut for Seleção wearing the number 11 jersey, in a friendly match against the United States; he scored from a header in the 28th minute, contributing to Brazil's 2–0 win. He was the top scorer of the 2011 South American Youth Championship with nine goals, including two in the final, in the 6-0 win against Uruguay, thus enabling Brazil to win their 11th title in this competition.

Early life[link]

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, to Neymar da Silva Sr. and Nadine Santos. He inherited his name from his father, who is a former footballer and became his son's advisor as Neymar's talent's began to grow.^{[citation needed]} Neymar comments on his father's role "My father has been by my side since I was little. He takes care of things, my finances and my family."^[7] Growing up, Neymar combined his love of futsal with street football.^[8]

In 1992, Neymar moved with his family to São Vicente, then, in 2003, they moved to Santos, where Neymar joined Santos FC. With the success of his youth career and added income, the family bought their first property, a house next to the Vila Belmiro. Their quality of family life improved, as at age 15, Neymar was earning 10 000 real per month and at 16, 25 000 real per month. At 17, he signed a full professional contract, getting upgraded to the Santos first team and even receiving sponsorships.^[9]

Club career[link]

Santos[link]

Youth[link]

Neymar playing for Santos.

Neymar began playing football at an early age and he was soon spotted by Santos FC, who offered him a contract in 2003, where he was inducted into their youth academy, which has, in the past, produced Brazilian internationals like Bruno Coutinho Martins, Clodoaldo, Diego Walsh, Elano and Alex. He also joined the likes of Pepe, Pelé and Robinho in starting out his career at Peixe (the football club's nickname).^[10] While in the youth academy, Neymar met Paulo Henrique Ganso, becoming good friends in the process.

At the age 14, he travelled to Spain in order to join Real Madrid, at the time when Real had stars like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Robinho. Neymar passed the trial for his potential move, but Santos reportedly paid 1 million reals to Neymar to keep him at the club. Neymar progressed through the youth ranks rapidly and he was finally awarded a promotion to the Santos first team in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

2009 season[link]

Like many of Brazil's footballing prodigies, Neymar made his professional debut on 7 March 2009, despite being only 17 years old; he was brought on for the last thirty minutes, in a 2–1 win against Oeste.^[8] The following week he scored his first goal for Santos against Mogi Mirim. One month later, on 11 April, Neymar scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 win against Palmeiras in the 2009 Campeonato Paulista semi-final first leg.^[11] In the final, however, Santos suffered a 4–2 aggregate defeat to the Corinthians.^[12] In his first season, Neymar racked up 14 goals in 48 games.^[8]

2010 season[link]

Neymar playing for Santos against Barcelona

Neymar continued his ascendancy in 2010, and, on 15 April 2010, he scored five goals for Santos in an 8–1 rout of Guarani in the qualifying stages of the Brazilian Cup.^[13] Following the 2010 Campeonato Paulista in which Neymar scored 14 goals in 19 games,^[10] the club were crowned champions after a 5–5 aggregate win over Santo André in the finals.^[14] Neymar was subsequently given the award for the best player in the competition.^[15] Neymar's performances for Santos have drawn comparisons to other Brazilians, including Robinho and Brazilian legend Pelé.^[16]

In 2010, Santos rejected a £12 million bid for him from English Premier League team West Ham United,^[17] and later an offer from another English club Chelsea, reported to be in the region of £20m.^[18] Despite Santos' manager's unwillingness to sell and Neymar himself insisting "I'm focused only on Santos",^[19] his agent, Wagner Ribeiro, indicated that Neymar’s career was elsewhere, stating "He wants to become the best player in the world. The chances of him doing that while playing in Brazil are zero."^[18] Although one year later Neymar admitted, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, that he had been happy with Chelsea's interest in him as "to play in Europe is my dream", whilst also stating that at the time it had been the right decision to stay in Brazil.^[20]

Neymar warming-up before the final of the Libertadores 2011.

On 30 November 2010, Santos sold a 5 % share of future transfer fees that he would receive to an investment group, Terceira Estrela Investimentos S.A. (TEISA), for R$ 3,549,900 (€1.5 million).^[21] The previous year, his family had sold a 40 % stake in Neymar's sporting rights to the DIS Esporte group who had been a long-term strategic partner of Santos' football club.^[22]

Despite his first two seasons being highly successful, having ended the 2010 season with an impressive 42 goals in 60 games, problems had been identified, namely Neymar's apparent taste for diving when tackled, rather than attempting to continue his run, and his attitude. The latter came to the forefront during a match with Goianiense, on 15 September 2010, when the Santos' manager, Dorival Júnior, appointed another player to take the penalty awarded for a foul on Neymar. His decision was based on the fact that Neymar had missed a crucial penalty during the Copa do Brasil final of that year, even if Santos went on to win. Reacting to this, Neymar turned his back on his manager, had to be calmed down by a linesman and argued with his captain, Edu Dracena. The fallout from this event was that Dorival Junior wished to have Neymar suspended for two weeks, but the board sided with the player and promptly sacked the manager. Despite Neymar's apologies over the incident, some doubts still remain about his attitude.^[8]

2011 season[link]

Neymar with Lionel Messi after the final of the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup.

Neymar scored six goals during Santos run to the 2011 Copa Libertadores Finals, tying him for third top goalscorer,^[23] including the clinching goal of Santos' 4-3 aggregate win over Cerro Porteño in the semifinals.^[24] In the two-legged final, Santos faced Uruguayan side C.A. Peñarol and drew the first leg 0-0 in Montevideo.^[25] At home in the second leg, Neymar opened the scoring in the 46th minute as Santos held on for a 2-1 win and Neymar won Man of the Match honours.^[26][27] The win brought Santos their first Copa Libertadores triumph since 1963, when Brazilian legend Pelé was playing for the club.^[28][29]

In September 2011, Santos president Luis Ribeiro threatened to report Real Madrid to FIFA following reports that they had attempted to sign Neymar to a pre-contract agreement and denied that such an agreement was in place.^[30] On 9 November 2011, Neymar and Santos agreed to a contract extension that would see the player stay with the club until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The deal reportedly increased Neymar's wages by 50%, to the levels that top European clubs would be paying him.^[31] On Wednesday 14 December 2011, Neymar scored the opening goal for Santos as they defeated Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup at the Toyota Stadium in Toyota, Japan, but failed to score against Barca in the final (18 December 2011), where Santos were defeated 4-0, ultimately finishing as runners up in the competition.^[32] He won the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award for scoring the best goal of the season in the Brazileirão in a 5–4 loss to Flamengo. On 31 December 2011, he won the 2011 South American Footballer of the Year award for the first time, by a record margin, following in the footsteps of Diego Maradona, Romário, Pelé and Zico.

2012 season[link]

On 5 February 2012, when he turned 20, he scored his 100th goal as a professional football player, against Palmeiras in the Campeonato Paulista.^[33][34] On 7 March 2012, Neymar netted a hat-trick as Santos saw off Brazilian rivals Internacional 3-1 in Copa Libertadores Group One.^[35]

International career[link]

Neymar at a press conference for Brazil

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

Neymar with Cafu and Paulo Henrique.

Neymar playing against Scotland.

Following Neymar's performances for Brazil's U-17 team at the 2009 U-17 World Cup in which he scored a goal in the opening match against Japan,^[36] former Brazilian football players Pelé and Romário reportedly urged coach Dunga to take Neymar to the 2010 World Cup.^[19][37] Although the widespread opinion that Neymar deserved a place in Dunga's squad went as far as a 14,000 signature petition,^[19][38] and despite the huge pressure on Dunga to pick Neymar,^[39] he was omitted from both the squad of 23,^[40][41] and the stand-by list.^[42] Although Dunga described Neymar as "extremely talented", he claimed that he had not been tested sufficiently on the international level to earn a World Cup spot and he had failed to impress enough while on international duty.^[43][44]

On 26 July 2010, Neymar was selected for the first time in the Brazil senior team by new head coach Mano Menezes for a friendly match against the United States to be played in East Rutherford, New Jersey. On 10 August 2010 he made his debut with the national team in that game, aged 18 years old, starting the match and wearing the number 11 jersey. He scored on his debut after 28 minutes, a header coming from an André Santos cross in a 2–0 win for Brazil.^[45] On 27 March 2011, he scored twice in a 2–0 win against Scotland at the Emirates Stadium.^[46] During the match against Scotland, a banana was thrown onto the pitch after he scored from the penalty spot, which led Neymar to complain about 'constant jeering and an atmosphere of racism', implying that Scottish fans exhibited racism.^[47][48] While Scottish officials explained that Neymar had been booed solely for perceived injury-feigning, a German student who was in the station amongst Brazil supporters said that he threw the banana with no racist intentions. This led to the Scottish Football Association asking the Brazilian Football Confederation for an apology for the accusations made to the Scottish fans.^[49][50] Neymar refused to apologise or retract his words claiming he 'did not accuse any person or any group of supporters'.^[51][52][53]

Neymar took part at the 2011 Copa América in Argentina, where he scored two goals in the first round game against Ecuador. With good show of form for Brazil, Neymar has become an important part of Brazil coach Mano Manezes' first team, with Neymar saying: "Being on the Brazilian team is a privilege," he said. "There are some marvelous players and I'm very happy to be among them."^[7]

Style of play[link]

Neymar is known to be a talented and exciting footballer, who has dazzling dribbling skills and clinical finishing. He commented on his attributes saying: "I'm always trying to perfect everything - dribbling, shooting, headers and control. You can always improve".^[7]

The media have often drawn comparisons between Neymar and Brazilian Legend Pelé, as Neymar possesses similar attributes and also like Pelé came from the Santos Youth Academy and turned heads with his skill. On 11 April 2012, Pelé confirmed he felt that Neymar was better than Lionel Messi. "Now everyone is talking about Messi; he is a star. But [to be the best ever] he must first become better than Neymar," Pele said. "At the moment Messi is just more experienced." .^[54] Argentinian legend Diego Maradona commented on this in Dubai, calling Pelé "stupid" for what Pelé had suggested. "Maybe Neymar is the best player in the world, but only if you say that Messi is from a different planet," Maradona said.^[55]

However, Neymar also has been known and criticised for his diving when tackled. For which Pelé has told: "He is a player with a body that can't take a lot of hits,". "A lot of times he will fall because he can't do anything else, but he was overdoing it." He continued: "Even when he is fouled, he can't make a spectacle out of it".^[56]

Neymar also said that he aspired to be like his idols, Real Madrid Forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and FC Barcelona's midfielders Andrés Iniesta and Xavi. By saying: "I like to watch good football so I like to watch good players. I like Cristiano Ronaldo, Iniesta, Xavi and Wayne Rooney."

Neymar's increasing reputation led both the media and former great player's, to draw comparisons between Neymar and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, which Neymar has commented on saying: "Messi is above everyone, there is no use comparing me with him,". "He is the best player in the world and I always get inspired when I watch good football."^[57] Ronaldo said: “Neymar is a great talent, the best we have in Brazil. He is very similar to Messi.” Zico said: “I see Neymar like a Ronaldo or a Messi, the type who appears and makes things happen.”^[58] After his hat-trick against Internacional 3-1 in Copa Libertadores and Messi's five goals scored in the Champions League, Neymar said: "I am a Messi fan. I was told what he did today. I support him to score a lot of nice goals so I can keep copying and imitating him."^[59]

Neymar greeting Brazil President, Dilma Rousseff, after the draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Outside football[link]

Personal life[link]

Neymar with Lucas Moura, Paulo Henrique Ganso and Dilma Rousseff, after the draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup

On May 8, 2011, Neymar discovered that he would be having a child, with a 17 year old girl. Four days later, on May 12, he officially gave the information through his official website, confirming that he would be a father for the first time at the age of 19.^[60] The mother's name was not released. Sixteen days after learning of pregnancy, on the eve of the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores, the child's mother informed Neymar that the baby was a boy. "I cried when he learned that his father would be. At first, I felt fear. Then joy. It is a new responsibility and I am now enjoying.", Neymar on the birth of his first child.^[61] In August 2011, Davi Lucca was born in São Paulo. He later described the birth of his baby boy as "2.8 kilograms of pure happiness" and also said "Mother and baby are in good condition just after childbirth". Despite the birth of his baby, it was understood that Neymar would not begin a relationship with the baby's mother.^[62][63]

Sponsorships[link]

Neymar has signed many sponsorships as his reputation rapidly grew from the age of 17. Nike signed him on to an 11-year deal, while in March 2011, Panasonic paid US$2.4 million to secure Neymar's services for two years. He has also signed other sponsorships from Volkswagen, Red Bull, Tenys Pé Baruel, Lupo, Ambev, Claro, Unilever and Santander.^{[64][65][66][67]} All of his sponsorships have earned him a total of an estimated €20 million per year.^[9]

Media[link]

In 2011, Konami Digital Entertainment announced that Neymar had joined Pro Evolution Soccer. He later featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 on the American version.^[68] Neymar joined Cristiano Ronaldo as a featured cover athlete on PES 2012, which was released in North America, on 27 September 2011.^[69]

Statistics[link]

Club[link]

As of 24 May 2012.^[70]

• ¹Includes Copa Sudamericana.

International[link]

As of 30 May 2012.

National team Club Season Apps Goals Brazil Santos 2010 2 1 2011 13 7 2012 2 1 Total 17 9 International goals[link] Neymar's International Goals: Last Updated February 29, 2012 # Date Venue Opponent Goal Result Competition 2010 1. 10 August 2010 New Jersey, United States  United States 1–0 2–0 International Friendly 2011 2. 27 March 2011 London, England  Scotland 1–0 2–0 International Friendly 3. 27 March 2011 London, England  Scotland 2–0 2–0 International Friendly 4. 13 July 2011 Córdoba, Argentina  Ecuador 2–1 4–2 2011 Copa América 5. 13 July 2011 Córdoba, Argentina  Ecuador 4–2 4–2 2011 Copa América 6. 10 August 2011 Stuttgart, Germany  Germany 2–3 2–3 International Friendly 7. 29 September 2011 Belém, Brazil  Argentina 1–0 2–0 2011 Superclásico de las Américas 8. 8 October 2011 San José, Costa Rica  Costa Rica 1–0 1–0 International Friendly 2012 9. 30 May 2012 Washington D.C., United States  United States 1–0 4–1 International Friendly

Career totals[link]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Santos

• Copa do Brasil (1): 2010
• Campeonato Paulista (3): 2010, 2011, 2012
• Copa Libertadores (1): 2011

National team[link]

Brazil

• South American Youth Championship (1): 2011
• Superclásico de las Américas (1): 2011

Individual[link]

• Best Young Player of Campeonato Paulista (1): 2009
• Best Forward of Campeonato Paulista (3): 2010, 2011, 2012
• Best player of Campeonato Paulista (3): 2010, 2011, 2012
• Best player of Copa Santander Libertadores (1): 2011
• Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão Championship Squad (2): 2010, 2011
• Arthur Friedenreich Award (1): 2010
• Golden Ball (1): 2011 – Best player in Brazilian League by magazine Placar
• Silver Ball (2): 2010, 2011 – Best Forward in Brazilian League by magazine Placar
• Golden Boot (2): 2010, 2011 – Most goals in all competition in Brazil
• Copa do Brasil Top scorer (1): 2010
• South American Youth Championship Top scorer (1): 2011
• Campeonato Paulista Top scorer (1): 2012
• FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball (1): 2011
• South American Footballer of the Year (1): 2011
• FIFA Puskás Award (1): 2011

References[link]