The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just three weeks away from making its way to the Meadowlands, where some of the world’s top players will be taking the field at MetLife Stadium. The star player set to play in the region for the tournament that is being put in the spotlight this week is Neymar, an attacking midfielder and forward for Brazil. Neymar is one of Brazil’s most beloved players of the past decade, becoming one of the sport’s biggest names.
Neymar was offered his first contract in 2003 by Brazilian club Santos, where he began playing for their youth academy. On March 7, 2009, Neymar made his professional debut at just 17 years old, which resulted in a 2-1 win. Neymar’s ascent to superstardom continued the following season, as he helped Santos win its first ever Copa do Brasil title in 2010. At the conclusion of the tournament, Neymar finished with 11 goals, making him the top goalscorer.
Despite drawing heavy interest from Premier League clubs, Neymar chose to remain with Santos. Some of his most memorable moments from the 2011 season include the winning goal in the second leg of the finals, as well as being named the 2011 Copa Libertadores’ Best Player.
Neymar’s last year at Santos was among his best, as he finished the 2012 Campeonato Paulista with 20 goals and was consequently voted as the Best Player. In May 2013, Neymar announced that he would be joining La Liga club Barcelona, signing a contract that would keep him with the team through June 2018.
Neymar made his official debut with Barcelona on Aug. 18, 2013, entering the game as a substitute in a 7-0 win. On Oct. 26, Neymar made his first El Clásico appearance, the iconic rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid. In the match, Neymar scored a goal and assisted another in a 2-1 win, directly contributing to the team’s success.
Entering the 2014-15 season, Barcelona had one of the most dangerous attacking trios that the sport had ever seen, with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. The trio finished the season with a combined 122 goals, the most recorded in a season for an attacking trio in Spanish history. Playing alongside two of the sport’s top players only further improved his skills within the game.
After an injury to Messi, Neymar was given a chance to be the primary scoring option for the team, which he took advantage of. Neymar scored 13 goals and nine assists in just eight games, doing so at the age of just 23 years old. Neymar finished in third place for the 2015 Ballon d’Or, which awards the sport’s best player of the year.
On Aug. 13, 2017, Neymar left Barcelona to join Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, expressing a desire to take on a new challenge. His new contract would pay him roughly €30 million per year, making him the second-highest paid player in the world. In Neymar’s debut for PSG, he proved that the money was worth it, scoring a goal and assisting another in a 3-0 victory. Neymar finished third once again in the 2017 Ballon d’Or voting, failing to overtake Messi and Ronaldo.
Neymar led PSG to its first-ever Champions League final, which the team would go on to lose 1-0, though he still earned much praise for his performance.
The 2021-22 season is when Neymar’s career began to slow down, showing that greatness can only last for so long. However, he continued to fight back, returning to his usual self the following season, recording the same amount of goals and five more assists despite playing four less games. Neymar is often hailed as a legend for PSG, currently sitting at fourth on the club’s all time scorers list.
In August 2023, Neymar left PSG to join Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. His two seasons with the club were plagued by injuries, which resulted in him only making seven total appearances for the team.
On Jan. 30, 2025, Neymar announced that he would be returning to where it all started, at Santos. The club that had recruited him over two decades ago had once again retained him, years after establishing himself as one of the sport’s biggest names. Over his two seasons with the club, Neymar has 12 goals and earned three assists. A large reason for his return to Santos was to be in the best possible condition for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Neymar made his tournament debut at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which brought high stakes for him, as he was viewed as Brazil’s star player and the tournament was being hosted in his home country. Neymar made it to the quarter-finals before an injury ruled him out for the rest of the tournament. Without their star player, it wasn’t long before the team was eliminated, falling to Germany in the semi-final by a score of 7-1. Neymar won the tournament’s Bronze Boot, scoring the third-most goals of any player.
During the 2016 Olympic Games, Neymar and Brazil got revenge on Germany, defeating them in the gold medal match, to bring Brazil its first Olympic gold in the sport. Brazil won 5-4 on penalties, with Neymar scoring the game-winning shot.
Neymar and Brazil returned to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, though he was recovering from an injury at the time. Brazil would make it past the group stages, but fall to Belgium in the quarter-finals, ending their tournament run.
Neymar was named to Brazil’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with much hype around him entering the tournament due to his stellar play in the prior season. In the quarter-finals against Croatia, Neymar scored the equalizing goal for Brazil, however, the team went on to lose in the penalty shootout.
On Sept. 8, 2023, Neymar scored twice in a 5-1 win over Bolivia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, which officially crowned him as Brazil’s top goalscorer. On a list that features Pelé and Ronaldo, being in the top spot is one of his most impressive feats.
This Monday, May 18, Neymar was named to Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is likely his last appearance in the tournament. Neymar was recently announced to be dealing with a calf injury, but hope remains high that he will still be able to play in the tournament. As one of Brazil’s most iconic players, this is Neymar’s last chance to win a FIFA World Cup title, bringing high stakes for him.
Neymar and Brazil will be coming to MetLife Stadium on June 13 to take on Morocco for their opening group stage match. Currently ranked as the sixth best team in the world, Neymar will hope to end his international career on a high note, returning to MetLife Stadium, where the final match is being held.
