Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known simply as Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and the Brazil national team. He is renowned for his flamboyant style of play, exceptional passing abilities, and two-footedness.
Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, to Neymar Santos Sr. and Nadine da Silva. He grew up in a Christian household and started playing football at a young age. His father, a former footballer, became his advisor. Neymar’s early experiences with futsal and street football helped him develop his technique and quick thinking.
1. Who is Neymar ?
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, known simply as Neymar, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League and the Brazil national team. He is renowned for his flamboyant style of play, exceptional passing abilities, and two-footedness.
2. What is Neymar’s full name ?
Neymar’s full name is Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior.
3. When and where was Neymar born ?
Neymar was born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil.
4. What teams has Neymar played for ?
Neymar has played for several teams throughout his career:
- Santos (2009–2013)
- Barcelona (2013–2017)
- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) (2017–2023)
- Al Hilal (2023–present)
5. How many goals has Neymar scored for his clubs ?
As of September 29, 2023, Neymar’s club career goal tally is:
- Santos:- 107 goals in 177 appearances
- Barcelona:- 68 goals in 123 appearances
- Paris Saint-Germain:- 82 goals in 112 appearances
- Al Hilal:- 0 goals in 3 appearances
6. How many goals has Neymar scored for the Brazil national team ?
Neymar has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for the Brazil national team, making him the nation’s all-time top scorer in official matches.
7. What are some of Neymar’s career achievements ?
Neymar’s notable career achievements include:
– Winning the Copa Libertadores with Santos in 2011
– Winning the continental treble with Barcelona in 2014-2015 (La Liga, Copa del Rey, and UEFA Champions League)
– Becoming the most expensive player ever in 2017 when PSG signed him for €222 million
– Winning five Ligue 1 titles with PSG and being named Ligue 1 Player of the Year
– Leading Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s football at the 2016 Summer Olympics
– Winning the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2013 and the Golden Ball
– Achieving a record six Samba Gold awards
8. What personal accolades has Neymar received ?
Neymar has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions, including:
– Named in the FIFA FIFPro World11 and UEFA Team of the Year twice
– Named in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season three times
– Finished third for the FIFA Ballon d’Or in 2015 and 2017
– Won the FIFA Puskás Award in 2011
– Named the world’s most marketable athlete by SportsPro in 2012 and 2013
– Cited as the world’s fourth-most-famous athlete by ESPN in 2016
– Included in Time’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2017
9. What is Neymar’s role in the Brazil national team ?
Neymar debuted for the Brazil
national team at the age of 18 and has since become a central figure. He is the nation’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 matches. He has captained the team and played pivotal roles in major tournaments, including the FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA World Cup, and the Olympics.
10. How has Neymar contributed to his national team’s successes ?
Neymar has significantly contributed to Brazil’s international successes:
- 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup:- Neymar helped Brazil win the tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball.
- 2014 FIFA World Cup:- Named in the Dream Team.
- 2016 Summer Olympics:- Captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s football.
- 2021 Copa América:- Led Brazil to a runner-up finish and was jointly awarded Best Player.
- 2022 FIFA World Cup:- Became the third Brazilian player to score in three World Cups.
11. What is Neymar’s playing style ?
Neymar is known for his flamboyant and skillful style of play, which includes:
– Exceptional dribbling and agility
– Precise passing and playmaking abilities
– Two-footed proficiency, making him versatile on the field
– Ability to perform complex moves in tight spaces, often influenced by his futsal background
12. What is Neymar’s background and early life ?
Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, to Neymar Santos Sr. and Nadine da Silva. He grew up in a Christian household and started playing football at a young age. His father, a former footballer, became his advisor. Neymar’s early experiences with futsal and street football helped him develop his technique and quick thinking.
13. How did Neymar’s youth career develop ?
Neymar began his youth career at Portuguesa Santista in 1999 before moving to Santos in 2003. His talent quickly became evident, and by age 17, he had signed his first professional contract with Santos, marking the start of his illustrious career.
14. What impact has Neymar had off the field ?
Off the field, Neymar has been recognized for his marketability and influence:
– Named the world’s most marketable athlete by SportsPro in 2012 and 2013
– Ranked as the world’s fourth-most-famous athlete by ESPN in 2016
– Included in Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2017
– Ranked among the highest-paid athletes globally by Forbes in multiple years
15. What challenges has Neymar faced in his career ?
Despite his success, Neymar has faced several challenges, including:
– Reoccurring injuries that have disrupted his playing time, especially during his tenure at PSG
– The pressure and scrutiny that come with being one of the most high-profile athletes in the world
16. What is Neymar’s current club and role ?
As of 2023, Neymar plays for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, where he continues to showcase his skills as an attacking midfielder. He joined the club in a record transfer, further highlighting his significant impact on the global football scene.
Neymar’s International Career
17. When did Neymar make his senior debut for Brazil ?
Neymar made his senior debut for Brazil on August 10, 2010, at the age of 18, in a friendly match against the United States. He scored his first goal for the national team during this match.
18. Why was Neymar not included in Brazil’s squad for the 2010 World Cup ?
Despite strong performances in the 2010 season and public support, Neymar was not included in the 2010 World Cup squad by coach Dunga. Dunga felt Neymar had not been tested enough at the international level.
19. What notable incidents occurred during Neymar’s early international career ?
In a match against Scotland on March 27, 2011, Neymar scored twice but faced racism accusations after a banana was thrown onto the pitch. A German student later admitted to throwing the banana without racist intent, leading to controversy and demands for apologies.
20. How did Neymar perform in the 2011 South American Youth Championship and Copa América ?
Neymar was the leading goal scorer in the 2011 South American Youth Championship with nine goals. In the 2011 Copa América, he scored two goals in the group stage but Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
21. What was Neymar’s role and performance in the 2012 Summer Olympics ?
Neymar played a key role for Brazil in the 2012 Summer Olympics, scoring several goals and assisting others. Brazil won the silver medal after losing to Mexico in the final.
22. How did Neymar perform in the 2013 Confederations Cup ?
Neymar excelled in the 2013 Confederations Cup, scoring four goals and assisting several others. Brazil won the tournament, and Neymar was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
23. What were Neymar’s achievements in the 2014 World Cup ?
Neymar scored four goals in the 2014 World Cup and provided crucial assists. However, his tournament was cut short due to a fractured vertebra in the quarter-finals against Colombia. Brazil was subsequently defeated by Germany in the semi-finals.
24 What happened to Neymar in the 2015 Copa América ?
In the 2015 Copa América, Neymar was involved in a controversial incident resulting in a four-match suspension, which ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament. Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
25. How did Neymar contribute to Brazil’s victory in the 2016 Olympics ?
Neymar captained Brazil to their first Olympic gold medal in men’s football in the 2016 Summer Olympics. He scored key goals, including the winning penalty in the final against Germany.
26. What were Neymar’s highlights in the 2018 World Cup ?
Neymar scored two goals in the 2018 World Cup and assisted others, but Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Belgium. He became Brazil’s third-highest scorer of all time during the tournament.
27. What was Neymar’s role in the 2019 Copa América ?
Neymar was initially included in the 2019 Copa América squad but was ruled out due to an ankle injury sustained in a friendly match against Qatar.
28. How did Neymar perform in the 2021 Copa América ?
Neymar scored and assisted several goals in the 2021 Copa América, leading Brazil to the final where they lost to Argentina. He was named the player of the tournament alongside Lionel Messi.
29. What milestone did Neymar achieve in the 2022 World Cup ?
In the 2022 World Cup, Neymar equalled Pelé’s record of 77 official goals for Brazil. He scored in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals but Brazil was eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals.
30. What significant record did Neymar break in September 2023 ?
On September 8, 2023, Neymar became Brazil’s all-time top scorer, surpassing Pelé’s record by scoring his 78th and 79th goals in a match against Bolivia.
31. What injury did Neymar sustain in October 2023 ?
In October 2023, Neymar ruptured his ACL and meniscus in his left knee during a qualifying match against Uruguay, requiring surgery and likely ruling him out for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.
Source:- Wikipedia