Neymar Jr. Then and Now

He was Brazil’s next Pelé. ⚽ He became the most expensive player in history. At 34, Neymar is back where it started — at Santos. From street football to a €222 million transfer — this is the updated story.

Neymar Jr. Then 🌱

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born on February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. His father was a former footballer. His mother worked in a factory.

He grew up poor. He played street football. He played futsal. He learned to dribble before he could read. His talent was obvious from age 5.

At 11, he joined Santos’ youth academy. Santos is the club where Pelé played. The pressure was enormous. Everyone said Neymar was the next Pelé.

He made his Santos debut at 17. He scored goals. He did tricks. He had a mohawk. He became a star in Brazil.

In 2011, he won the Puskás Award for the best goal of the year. He was 19. He was already famous worldwide.

In 2013, Barcelona signed him. He joined Messi and Suárez. They formed “MSN” — the most feared attack in football history. They won the Champions League in 2015.

Neymar was on top of the world. He was 21. He was Brazil’s captain. He was the heir to Pelé.

The Middle: The Record Transfer 👑

In 2017, Paris Saint-Germain did something shocking. They paid €222 million for Neymar. It was more than double the previous world record. It remains the most expensive transfer in football history.

At PSG, Neymar was the star. He scored goals. He won Ligue 1 titles. He reached the Champions League final in 2020. But injuries plagued him. He missed months every season.

He also became controversial. He was accused of diving. He argued with teammates. He partied. The media criticized him.

But his talent was undeniable. When fit, he was one of the best players in the world. He could dribble past anyone. He could score from anywhere.

In 2022, he played in the World Cup in Qatar. Brazil lost to Croatia in the quarter-finals. Neymar scored, but it wasn’t enough. He cried. Many thought it was his last World Cup.

Like Luka Modrić, Neymar carried his country’s hopes. Like Harry Kane, he became his nation’s record scorer.

In 2023, Neymar left PSG. He joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The deal was worth €90 million. He was 31.

But disaster struck. In October 2023, he tore his ACL playing for Brazil. He was out for over a year. Many thought his career was over.

Neymar Jr. Now 📈

Today, Neymar is 34 and back at Santos — where it all began. He returned in January 2025. He signed a short-term deal.

He’s playing again. He’s scoring goals. He’s doing tricks. He’s happy. The fans at Santos worship him. He’s home.

He’s also Brazil’s all-time top scorer — 79 goals, passing Pelé’s record of 77. It’s a remarkable achievement.

But injuries still haunt him. He misses games. His body is fragile. He can’t play every week anymore.

He’s spoken about retirement. He says he wants to play in the 2026 World Cup. It would be his fourth World Cup. He wants to win it for Brazil.

Off the pitch, he’s a father of three. He’s one of the most followed athletes on Instagram — over 200 million followers. He’s a global brand.

From street football in Mogi das Cruzes to a €222 million transfer. From the next Pelé to Brazil’s record scorer.

Neymar didn’t become Pelé. But he became Neymar — one of the most talented, controversial, and entertaining players of his generation. 💪