Neymar, Brazil
Neymar, Brazil
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior |
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| Date of birth | 5 February 1992 (age 22) |
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| Place of birth | Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil |
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| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
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| Playing position | Forward, winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Barcelona | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2003 | Portuguesa Santista | ||
| 2003–2009 | Santos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2009–2013 | Santos | 103 | (54) |
| 2013– | Barcelona | 26 | (9) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2009 | Brazil U17 | 3 | (1) |
| 2011 | Brazil U20 | 7 | (9) |
| 2012 | Brazil U23 | 7 | (4) |
| 2010– | Brazil | 48 | (31) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:36, 17 May 2014 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:22, 3 June 2014 (UTC) |
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Age: 21
Club: Barcelona
Brazil’s newest hero will be expected to shoulder the expectations of millions this summer.
As hosts, the Selecao will be expected to win their sixth FIFA World Cup despite the fact that this team led by Luiz Felipe Scolari is far from special.
That may be a harsh assessment of a side which just convincingly won the 2013 Confederations Cup—seen as a dry run in South America for next summer’s spectacle—but man-for-man, this XI is nowhere close to the glories of old.
Scolari knows this, and in turn, he’s built a Brazilian side around their precocious, awe-inspiring talent. Neymar operates in a free role from the left-hand side of the Selecao’s system, with striker Fred deployed to detract attention and create room for his countryman to work in.
The Barcelona trickster has pace, quick feet, an eye for goal and a stunning pass, so keep your eyes peeled whenever he gets on the ball in the final third.
