Where Is Neymar Now? Injury, Transfers, and More

Neymar is playing his football in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Hilal. The Brazilian joined the Saudi club in August 2023 after six years at Paris Saint-Germain. He signed a two-year €90 million (£75 million) deal in August 2023. The 32-year-old is often criticised for choosing oil money over legacy when he left Ligue 1 for the backwater desert state. 

The Saudi Pro League has been throwing hundreds of millions of pounds at players from across Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues to upset the world order. The aim is to buy the best players to legitimise the Saudi state through sport. SportsBoom delves into Neymar’s controversial career. 

Santos | South American Youth Championship | Olympic Games: 2011 – 2016 | 2014 FIFA World Cup

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior took the world by storm when he helped Santos Futebol Clube to the 2011 CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores de América. Santos had not won the Copa Libertadores since 1963 when Pelé led the club to their second title. The fresh-faced and flamboyant 19-year-old top-scored with six goals. 

He scored the winning goal in the 4-3 semi-final second-leg win against Cerro Porteño. The Brazilian scored the opening goal in the 2-1 win over Peñarol in the second leg of the final at home after the first leg finished 0-0. Neymar was named Man of the Match and awarded several individual awards for his performance over the next few seasons. 

In the same year, Neymar was the top-scorer at the South American Youth Championship. He netted nine goals as Brazil claimed the Under-20 South American Championship. In 2011, Neymar was awarded the coveted FIFA Puskás Award for scoring the best goal of the year. The Brazilian scored an incredible individual goal in the Brasileirão Série A against Flamengo, in a 5–4 defeat. 

Neymar of Santos//Getty Images

The following year, Neymar earned a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He would claim a gold medal, four years later, during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Neymar scored in the final and struck the gold medal-winning penalty in the shootout against Germany. It was sweet revenge after Germany humiliated Brazil 7-1 in the South American’s backyard during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Belo Horizonte. Neymar did not play against the Germans due to an injury in the previous match.

In the 2014 quarter-final versus Colombia, Neymar was stretchered off the field after being kneed in the back by Juan Camilo Zúñiga in a fierce clash. The medical team later confirmed that the attacking forward had suffered a fractured vertebra in his spine, which ruled him out of the rest of the tournament.

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez//Getty Images

Barcelona: 2013 - 2017

Neymar signed for Barcelona in May 2024. His time at the Spanish club would be controversial and successful, in equal measure. No details were given about the transfer fee from Santos, but an investigation was initiated by the Spanish prosecutor’s office. Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu initially reported that the Brazilian’s fee was €57.1 million (£47.6m). 

However, several months later, the prosecutor’s office – based in Madrid – investigated Neymar, his parents, President Sandro Rosell, and Bartomeu for tax fraud. In January 2014, Rosell resigned, and Bartomeu took over as president of the Catalan club. Details later emerged that Barcelona paid €86.2m (£71.8m) for the Santos playmaker. His parents received €40m (£33.3m), and Santos received £12.2m (14.6m). 

The tax evasion, fraud, and corruption charges went on for years after Neymar left the La Liga club. His family were acquitted of fraud and corruption by a Spanish court in 2022. On-field, he was a star. Neymar formed one-third of the fabled ‘MSN’ (Messi, Suárez, Neymar) that set La Liga alight. Barcelona won ten major trophies during his four-year stay at the club. 

Barcelona won the treble (La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey) in 2014/15 and did the domestic double (La Liga, Copa del Rey) in 2015/16. In all, Neymar scored 105 goals and added 64 assists in 186 appearances for the Blaugrana before his shock move to Paris Saint-Germain. 

Lionel Messi after winning his sixth Ballon D'Or award//Getty Images

In 2017, Neymar pushed for a move away from Catalonia because he did not like playing a supporting role to Lionel Messi. The transfer rumours and drama played out in the media and public between June and July 2017. Barcelona did not want to sell but finally gave in. The club demanding PSG pay the full €222m (£198m) release clause in one payment. 

Neymar's transfer is still the most expensive in football history. It kick-started several years of inflated prices for players as clubs involved in deals with Barcelona increased the asking prices knowing they knew the club had a war chest like a Spanish Galleon. It was reported that Neymar told his teammates about his departure at Messi’s wedding. 

One of the reasons Neymar wanted out of the Catalan club was to win the Ballon d’Or, something he could not do playing second-fiddle to Messi. Despite sustained success at PSG, Neymar did not win the Golden Ball. 

Barcelona opened a lawsuit against the 25-year-old for contract breach. The club demanded that he return his renewal bonus. They also wanted €8.5m (£7.1m), and an additional ten per cent for back payments. Neymar’s lawyers counter-sued, beginning a years-long court battle, which only ended in July 2021. Barcelona and Neymar’s representatives came to an “amicable” out-of-court settlement. 

Neymar Jr with President of PSG Nasser Al-Khelaifi/Getty Images

Paris Saint-Germain: 2017 – 2023

Neymar spent six successful seasons in France. He won 13 major honours for Paris Saint-Germain, including five Ligue 1 titles. He won three Coupe de France and three Trophée des Champions and added two Coupe de la Ligue to the trophy cabinet. The Brazilian played 173 times for PSG. He scored 118 goals, with 77 assists.

Neymar ended his career in the City of Lights as PSG’s fourth-highest scorer; however, his time was plagued by injuries and the lack of European success. He missed 127 matches for the French club during his six seasons. Furthermore, the contentious South American never won the UEFA Champions League, despite PSG signing Kylian Mbappé, Messi, and a host of other star names. 

He never won the Ballon d’Or, either. Instead, Messi won the Golden Ball three more times after his former strike partner forced a move away from Barcelona. Neymar did finish third in the voting twice (2015 & 2017), but Messi won the Ballon d’Or playing for PSG while Neymar was his teammate. Ouch! 

In 2016, Brazil newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported that Neymar was found guilty of tax fraud for failure to report earnings from his contracts with Santos, Barcelona, and Nike. A Brazilian judge ordered him to pay 188.8 million Brazilian reals (€45.9m, (£38.2) in fines and back taxes. In a separate case, Neymar’s father was also ordered to pay €100,000 over unpaid taxes from 2007 and 2008. 

Neymar and Al-Hilal's president Fahad bin Nafel//Getty Images

Al-Hilal: 2023 – Current 

The media criticised Neymar for moving to Saudi Arabia. He was only 31 years old and playing at a high level. However, few clubs could afford his salary and inflated transfer fee. Like many of his colleagues, including Cristiano Ronaldo, he could not turn down the opportunity to make millions. 

The South American’s transfer fee from Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal was €90m (£75m). According to Sky Sports News, Neymar’s salary would be €155m (£129.4) per year at Al-Hilal. However, Neymar has not had a good time in Saudi Arabia. He only played six games for Al-Hilal before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament on international duty in October 2023. 

Neymar’s contract is only two years. He will be 33 years old once he has recovered from his knee injury. Will he be the same player? Will Al-Hilal extend his contract, or will he go back to South America to see out his career? All valid questions.

Neymar //Getty Images