Jaw-Dropping Secrets About Neymar That Will Blow Every Football Fan's Mind

Neymar is a once-in-a-generation talent.

Regardless of whether you think he fully realized his immense potential, there is no question that the Brazilian—gifted with samba flair, daring skill and an endless hunger for the spectacular—stands as one of the most iconic players of his generation.

Most fans are aware that he became the most expensive footballer in history with his €222 million ($260 million) transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, and that he is Brazil's all-time top scorer. But what about the lesser-known stories—his childhood, the icons who influenced him and the obscure records peppered throughout his career?

Here, Sports Illustrated dives deeper into Neymar's extraordinary story with 25 captivating facts.

Early Life Facts About Neymar

1. Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, on Feb. 5, 1992.

2. He has frequently named former Manchester City and Real Madrid striker Robinho as his greatest idol during his formative years.

3. Neymar joined Santos' youth academy in 2003 and penned his first professional deal with the club at 17, just before breaking into the senior squad.

4. Former coach Betinho is widely credited with first discovering and nurturing a six-year-old Neymar in 1998, recognizing his gift during a beach soccer game in São Vicente, Brazil, before later recommending him to the Santos FC academy.

5. At just 14 years of age, Neymar also impressed during a trial with Real Madrid, prompting Santos to dramatically step up their efforts to retain their budding star.

Career Facts About Neymar

6. Neymar hit the ground running at Santos, netting 42 goals in 60 appearances across all competitions during just his second full campaign, helping propel the club to their first-ever Copa do Brasil triumph.

7. Around the same period, Brazilian supporters even launched a petition urging then-national team manager Dunga to include him in the 2010 World Cup roster, though he was ultimately omitted.

8. He eventually made his Brazil debut in August 2010 at age 18, finding the net just 28 minutes into a friendly win against the United States.

9. Neymar completed a move to FC Barcelona in 2013 and was presented at the Camp Nou before a crowd of 56,500 fans, a record attendance for a Brazilian player's unveiling at the time.

10. Across his career for club and country—representing Santos, Barcelona, PSG and Al Hilal—Neymar has accumulated 29 major trophies.

Facts About Neymar's Personal Life

11. Neymar shares an incredibly tight bond with his sister, Rafaella Beckran, with the two even sporting tattoos dedicated to one another.

12. Each year, Neymar co-organizes a charity match alongside fellow Brazilian footballer Nenê in Jundiaí, with the goal of gathering food donations for families in need.

13. Neymar is a Christian and practices the Pentecostal faith. He has also been known to donate a portion of his earnings to his church.

14. Off the pitch, Neymar is an avid basketball enthusiast. He is notably a supporter of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers and is frequently spotted courtside at games.

15. He once made a guest appearance in the hit television series La Casa de Papel, taking on the role of a Brazilian monk named Monje João.

Fun Facts About Neymar

16. Neymar ranks as the third most-followed footballer on Instagram globally, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with upwards of 230 million followers on the platform.

17. Neymar has suffered a remarkably unfortunate injury history, having missed more than 1,500 days and over 250 matches for club and country throughout his career.

18. Neymar is the proud owner of his own helicopter. In 2019, he acquired an Airbus H-145 valued at nearly $15 million, with the seats embroidered with the logo of the fictional superhero Batman.

19. Renowned for frequently switching both his hairstyle and hair color, Neymar reportedly invests around $2,000 per month in keeping up his appearance.

20. Neymar graced the cover of Time magazine in February 2013, becoming the first Brazilian athlete in history to appear on the front page of the publication.

Records and Achievements

21. Neymar claimed the FIFA Puskás Award in 2011 at just 19 years of age, courtesy of a stunning solo strike in a Brazilian league fixture against Flamengo.

22. In addition to being Brazil's all-time leading scorer, he also holds the unwanted distinction of accumulating the most yellow cards in the national team's history.

23. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Neymar netted the fastest goal in Olympic football history, striking just 14 seconds into Brazil's group stage clash against Honduras.

24. Neymar has reached the 100-goal milestone at three separate clubs—Santos, Barcelona and PSG—a feat matched only by fellow Brazilian great Romário and Cristiano Ronaldo in modern men's football.

25. He also stands as the only player in history to have scored in both a Copa Libertadores final and a UEFA Champions League final, winning both competitions.