📍São Vicente, São Paulo, Brazil
1992 – 2009“Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior was born in February 1992 in Mogi das Cruzes, in the state of São Paulo, the son of Neymar Santos, a journeyman professional striker whose career kept the family moving, and Nadine. When he was small, the family moved in with his grandmother in São Vicente, an old beach town on the coast of São Paulo state, beside Santos, and money was tight. Later, when his sister, Rafaella, was born, they moved to a bigger house in Jardim Glória, a poor district of neighbouring Praia Grande, where the family house was properly built, unlike the shacks of many of his school friends. Neymar played football constantly: on the beach, in the streets, and on the indoor futsal courts, where he learned the dribbles, feints and tricks that made him famous. His father, who remained his closest adviser throughout his career, guided him from the start. At about six, while his father played in a beach match in São Vicente, the scout Betinho, who had discovered Robinho, saw the boy running around and doing tricks no normal child could do, and was astonished. Neymar joined the youth teams of Portuguesa Santista in São Vicente, and soon afterwards Santos, the great club of Pelé, where he rose through the youth ranks. He made his debut for Santos at seventeen, in 2009, and won the Copa Libertadores in 2011. He moved to Barcelona in 2013, winning the Champions League, and became Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer. His charity, the Neymar Jr Institute, works in Jardim Glória, giving thousands of local children education, sport and opportunity.”
🗺️ Approximate location today
📍 Street view today