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Home , Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani, Neymar, Rivaldo

Interview Interview

Another enormous transfer fee would follow, but at least the boy from Brazil would be back on track to becoming the best player in the world, rather than lingering in strikes gold Europe’s fifth best competition, da Silva Santos Junior moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain in France’s top flight . 2017 for a record breaking €222m. But even amid World Cup fever and all the hype, Life at PSG started well, the boy from the streets of Sao Paulo never forgets his family, nor his roots. with a flurry of goals and an instantaneous connection with and Kylian eymar Jr was not in “As soon as I arrived home I used received heavy criticism from all Mbappe, but things quickly a position to make many to grab my football and go straight corners for the move. soured. First, a public spat with Nchoices as a young boy. out and I’d play until late at night Despite the best efforts of Uruguayan Cavani over who would Along with his parents, with my friends. Qatari investors, playing for PSG take a penalty, then reports of Neymar Santos Sr and Nadine da “Nothing else seemed to is not conducive to Neymar’s a fall-out with manager Unai Silva, and younger sister, Rafaella matter to me at that age. very public desire to become the Emery over tactics. PSG made Beckran, the whole family lived “Now, every time I think best footballer in the world. At an early exit from the Champions in his grandparents’ house. His about my childhood I think about Barcelona, he forged a strong League after a 5-2 loss on father, who held down three jobs my family, friends, and football. partnership with Lionel , aggregate to Real , and to make ends meet, described Nothing has changed.” where he could play apprentice a week later Neymar fractured a Praia Grande as the place where Neymar remains a humble to the Argentine master and five- metatarsal against Marseille. the people of Sao Paulo “threw man, but he has been at the time Ballon D’or winner. Conspiracy theories pointed their garbage”. centre of one or two life-altering Prior to the 2018 World Cup, to the fact that Neymar had But Neymar Jr stood up for his affairs. His €222m move from there was great speculation that returned to Brazil to celebrate decision to play and Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain Neymar could be returning to his sister’s birthday every March , rather than try and emulate (PSG) in 2017 smashed the world- Barcelona – or possibly even to since arriving in Europe, but the his heroes , Marcos, record transfer fee and his agent great rivals, Real Madrid, with operation, crutches and absence and Alex on turf. – Neymar Sr – pocketed a cool a move to Manchester (City or from PSG’s Ligue 1 title – and “It definitely helped me €24m. The father and son team United) also touted. Brazil’s World Cup build-up to develop a fast game and – suggests it is just coincidence. that Brazilian smartness,” said The World Cup proved Neymar, whose family lived in a welcome distraction for Neymar, a modest home until he graduated who does his best talking on from the famed Santos academy the field. With 54 international in Sao Paulo in 2000. goals in 84 games before turning “I had a very happy childhood 26, Neymar is fast closing in on and I can still remember waking Brazilian greats Romario (55), up every morning just wanting to Ronaldo (62) and Pele (77) at the play football – even though I knew top of the goalscoring records. I had to go to school. He reached 30 international goals faster than and . Neymar may have arrived at his second World Cup short of fitness ‘EVERY TIME I THINK after more than three months out, ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD I THINK ABOUT MY FAMILY, but he was undoubtedly more ➤ FRIENDS, AND FOOTBALL. NOTHING HAS CHANGED.’ Left: Neymar is a global brand NEYMAR JR ambassador for TCL, a leading consumer electronics brand

July-September 2018 Upward Curve 15 Interview

Today, Lima suggests that Neymar has the ability to unite people with the beauty of his football, but ‘A LOT OF PLAYERS HAVE POTENTIAL BUT DO NOT claims, “you can’t compare any REACH THEIR GOALS... player with Pele because you will GET FOCUSED, REMAIN never find another one like Pele.” ATTACHED TO FAMILY, TRUST FAMILY AND HAVE “In terms of attitude, they are FRIENDS AROUND.’ the same,” Lima, now 76 years old, admitted. NEYMAR JR “Neymar also has something that even Pele doesn’t. The speed three to lay their claim and Neymar of his feet and the way he can was not open to distractions prior move the ball. The vision of the to the tournament. game, too, you can compare “I have a girlfriend, but during them. After training, Neymar physiotherapy, she has to wait,” he would always come to me and say said after the metatarsal injury. experienced than the 22 year-old discovered the 11 year-old boy ‘Mister, I would like to take some “I play poker, which is my who missed Brazil’s 7-1 drubbing playing in a futsal tournament, free-kick… can I?’” favourite hobby, while treating my four years previously through Neymar credits Antonio Lima Dos While he has forged a party injury. I play video games at my a fractured vertebrae. Santos with his success. boy reputation, Neymar is firmly computer while treating my injury. “The difference is hard to Lima – who played with Pele at focused on becoming the best “You see a lot of players explain,” said Neymar, who Santos FC and for Brazil – asked player in the world and has a team that have potential but do not captained Brazil to their first the club if they would create a new around him 24/7 to drive towards reach their goals. It’s sad. But Olympic gold medal in men’s age-group to foster the precocious that. He once famously said: I think anyone who dreams about football at the 2016 Olympics. talent. He weaned Neymar off junk “I am the best player in the world. it should get focused, remain “But I think I’m more food, put him on a special weights Ronaldo and Messi are from attached to his family, trust his experienced, more wise, more programme, transitioned him from another planet”. family and have friends around. ‘cascudo’, as we say in Brazil.” a pure striker into a and The 2018 World Cup He needs to get focused, train Despite Brazil’s shock exit in taught him how to use his left foot. presented an opportunity for all and always give everything.”➤ the 2014 World Cup semi-final, he was fourth highest scorer, with crucial goals against , Cameroon and Chile. For many, Neymar is well on the way to etching his name in the history books as the greatest striker of all time to wear Santos’ famous white jersey – next to the legendary attacking force of Dorval, Mengalvio, Coutinho, Pele and Pepe. Although it was another Brazilian great, , who

Above: Neymar says faith guides him, as he often demonstrates by donning the ‘100% ’ headband Right: Neymar and his girlfriend; 22-year-old actress and model, Bruna Marquezine, on the red carpet at an event hosted by The Foundation for AIDS Research in Sao Paulo

July-September 2018 Upward Curve 17 Interview

Neymar is especially close to his Regardless of his worth, Neymar sister Rafaella Beckran, and has has always had a reputation of a tattoo of the glamorous social- being inclusive, often spending media star on his arm. He also has hours speaking to large groups of an image of mother. children. While at Santos, Neymar With the success of Neymar’s celebrated a birthday by inviting youth career and added income, everybody at the club – from the family bought their first cleaners to the President – to a property, a house next to Santos’ party, and in 2015, he founded Estadio Vila Belmiro. The quality the Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr. of life vastly improved, with “At Jardim Glória, the Neymar earning 10,000 Brazilian neighbourhood I lived part of my Reais per month (US$2,700 teenage years, in Praia Grande, today) at 15 and 125,000 Reais we began our activities with the per month (US$33,735 today) capacity of assisting 3000 kids a year later. At 17, he signed his and teenagers per day. It’s an first full professional contract, educational and sports complex was upgraded to the Santos first that helps children from team, and began signing his first even adorns his son with the same Now, the Brazilian is with 22-year- seven to 14 years old and sponsorship deals. Aged 21, he message on occasions. old actress and model, Bruna their families.” ■ moved to Barcelona for €57m. Davi Lucca da Silva Santos Marquezine, who he met in Rio de neymaroficial.com Neymar could have joined was born in August 2011 to Janeiro in 2012. facebook.com/neymarjr Real Madrid as a 14-year-old. He 19-year-old Neymar and 17-year- Named on the list @neymarjr travelled to the Spanish capital, old Carolina Dantas. Although the of the most influential people in but chose the “cultural values” of couple are no longer together, they the world, Neymar’s popularity Above: Neymar breaks from growing up in his home country. appear to manage an amicable is growing, as is his $140m net training to talk tactics with his He has told how he is guided by relationship and Neymar is often worth, which is enhanced by a son Below: The combination of the love of God and often wears pictured with his son at training, $5-8m per annum endorsement flair and street skill made a ‘100% Jesus’ headband – and after matches and in public. from Beats by Dre. Neymar a favourite at Barcelona