Neymar Jr turns 33: Some lesser-known facts about Brazilian star

As Neymar celebrates his 33rd birthday we have compiled some facts about the star.

Neymar Jr, one of the most well-known and acclaimed football players in the world, is known for both his captivating personality off the field and his amazing ability on it.

When he established himself at Santos he was seen as the most promising player who will have as big an impact in the sport as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His qualities on the pitch were exhilarating and he became the most influential player with his ability to change the game with his playing style.

Even so, there is still a lot to discover about this Brazilian superstar. Since today is his birthday, here are some amazing facts about him that will give you a peek into his life outside of the news.

Neymar Jr.’s birthday: Some lesser-known facts about the Brazilian star.

• On February 5, 1992, Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil. Neymar da Silva Sr., Neymar’s father, was a professional football player who played for multiple clubs in Brazil, therefore he grew up in a sporty family. In actuality, Neymar’s father was a major influence on his early development and served as his first coach.

• During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he captained Brazil’s team to their first Olympics and helped his side win a Gold Medal by scoring a winning penalty in the final against Germany.

• He was a close friend of basketball player Kobe Bryant as both used to play sports together. The Brazilian also has one of Kobe’s quotes tattooed on his thighs.

• When he is not playing football, the forward prefers to play video games, watch movies or spend time with his son, David Lucca.

• Betinho, a long-time Santos employee, came across Neymar in 2004 and brought him to Santos Academy to help him develop into a star player.

• During the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he scored four goals and was one of the top-performing players before he fractured his vertebra in the quarterfinals.

• He led Brazil to the 2013 Confederations Cup and was also named the tournament’s most valuable player and won the Golden Ball.

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