From a young age, Neymar displayed a passion for football and at the tender age of 11, he joined Santos FC's youth academy.
Neymar's father, Neymar da Silva Sr., had a background as a footballer himself, playing for various clubs in Brazil. He also took on the role of being Neymar's first coach.
Making his professional debut for Santos in 2009 at just 17 years old, Neymar swiftly rose to prominence as one of Brazil's most promising young talents. He played a pivotal role in Santos' triumphs, securing the Copa do Brasil in 2010 and the Copa Libertadores in 2011.
On his 20th birthday, Neymar accomplished a remarkable feat, scoring his 100th professional goal for Santos during a league match against Palmeiras.
In a historic move, Neymar transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a staggering €222 million, setting a new record for the most expensive player in football history at that time.
Interestingly, at the age of 13, Neymar was on the brink of joining Barcelona's arch-rivals, Real Madrid, before ultimately deciding on Barcelona.
Neymar's journey continued with another world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, solidifying his status as the most expensive player in the world by a significant margin.
In 2011, Neymar led Santos to their first Copa Libertadores title in 48 years, playing a pivotal role with six goals in the competition, including two in the final against Uruguayan side Penarol.
The talented footballer's success extended to the international stage, as he played a crucial part in Brazil's gold medal victory in men's football at the 2016 Summer Olympics, netting four goals, including a decisive free-kick in the final against Germany.