Neymar

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (born 5 February 1992 in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil), commonly known as Neymar, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a forward for Brazilian club Santos and the Brazilian national football team. He’s called “The New Pele”.

Career In Santos

After joining Santos in 2003, Neymar eventually made his debut aged 17 against Oeste on 7 March 2009 in a 2–1 win. Neymar’s next appearance was against Mogi Mirim a week later, during which he scored his first goal for Santos. On 11 April 2009, in the 2009 Campeonato Paulista semi-final first leg against Palmeiras, Neymar scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 win at Estádio Vila Belmiro. In the final however Santos suffered a 4–2 aggregate defeat to Corinthians.

Neymar’s performances for Santos have drawn comparisons to Brazilian idols such as Robinho and Pelé. He has attracted interest from several European clubs such as Manchester United, Internazionale, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Juventus, with Real Madrid even going so far as to claim that they had signed a pre-contract agreement with Neymar’s agent, Renato Rodrigues, which Santos fervently denied. Following this, Santos placed an asking price of €30 million on the player’s head, and tied Neymar down to a new contract lasting until December 2014. Neymar himself said he did not think it was time to leave Santos, and that he was only focused on the club. However Neymar’s agent insisted that the Santos striker does not want to stay in his home country of Brazil. Neymar revealed that he would favour a move to Juventus.

On 15 April 2010, Neymar scored five goals for Santos in an 8–1 routing of Guarani in the round of 16 of the Brazilian Cup. Following the 2010 Campeonato Paulista in which Neymar scored 14 goals in 19 games, the club were crowned champions after a 5–5 aggregate win over Santo André in the finals. Neymar was subsequently given the award for the best player in the competition.

On 30 November 2010, Santos FC sold 5% interests on future transfer fees received to an investment group, Terceira Estrela Investimentos S.A. (TEISA), for R$ 3,549,900 (€1.5 million). Neymar’s Santos contract runs until 2015 and the dismissal penalty is €45 million.

International career

Neymar made his international debut against the United States in March 2010 and scored in a 3-0 victory, but was not called up to the Brazil side for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2011 alone, he scored nine goals in seven games for the Brazilian Under-20 side. On 27 March 2011, Neymar scored both goals as Brazil beat Scotland 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with one of his goals coming from the penalty spot.

Endorsements

Neymar is currently endorsed by Nike and features prominently in their Brazilian football advertising campaign. He also endorses the Panasonic Viera line of 3-D televisions and appears in a commercial for the Japanese company.

“The New Pele” Nickname

Because if his ball skills and ability, Neymar given the nickname as “The New Pele” by the fans

of football in Brazil. It was given because saw his talent exceeds that seen Robinho failed and does not deserve that title.