Neymar Jr.'s Birthday: A Look at His Career Highlights

Neymar Jr., born on February 5, 1992, is one of the most talented and exciting footballers of his generation. As the Brazilian forward celebrates his birthday, it's a good time to take a look back at his career highlights so far.

Neymar Jr.'s birthday: Club career highlights

Neymar began his professional career with Santos FC in Brazil and quickly established himself as one of the most promising young players in the world. In 2011, he was awarded the South American Footballer of the Year award, and in 2013, he signed with Barcelona for a fee of €57 million, making him the third-most expensive player in history at the time.

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At Barcelona, Neymar formed a deadly attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, known as MSN. The three players combined for an incredible 122 goals in the 2014-15 season, helping Barcelona win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League. Neymar himself scored 39 goals and provided 16 assists in that season, cementing his place as one of the top attacking players in the world.

In 2017, Neymar made a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain, breaking the world transfer record with a fee of €222 million. In his first season with PSG, Neymar scored 28 goals and provided 16 assists, leading the club to a Ligue 1 title and a place in the UEFA Champions League round of 16. Injuries have limited his playing time in recent seasons, but when he's on the field, Neymar remains one of the most entertaining players in the world, with his quick dribbling, clinical finishing, and jaw-dropping skill moves.

He is one of three players along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Romario to score more than 100 goals for three clubs.

Neymar Jr's International career highlights

Neymar made his international debut for Brazil in 2010 and quickly established himself as a key player for the team. In the 2013 Confederations Cup, Neymar was named the tournament's best player and scored four goals, helping Brazil win the competition. The following year, he played a crucial role in Brazil's run to the last four in the 2014 FIFA World Cup scoring four goals and providing two assists in the tournament.

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Since then, Neymar has become the talisman for the Brazil national team, and his performances have been instrumental in their success in recent years. He was the top scorer in the 2019 Copa America, helping Brazil win the tournament for the first time in 12 years. But, the highlight was his success at the 2016 Summer Olympics where he helped Brazil win its first-ever Olympic gold. He also scored two goals in the 2021 Copa America, helping Brazil reach the final before they were beaten by Argentina.

Off the field, Neymar is known for his flamboyant personality and love of social media. He has millions of followers on Instagram and is considered one of the most marketable athletes in the world. Despite some controversies and criticism, Neymar remains one of the most beloved and exciting players in the game, and fans around the world can't wait to see what he does next.

As Neymar celebrates his birthday, we can only look back at his incredible career so far with admiration and excitement for what's to come. Happy birthday, Neymar Jr.!