Ruth Bjorklund - Neymar: Superstar Striker

Opposite: As captain of the Brazilian national team, Neymar celebrated a victory over South American rival Chile.

Introduction

Who Is Neymar?

I n 1992, a star was born to a small family living in Mogi das Cruzes, which is on the outskirts of So Paulo, Brazil. It was a humble beginning for a man whose name would someday be known throughout the world. A soccer player extraordinaire, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. has become one of the worlds greatest athletes.

As a testament to his talent and fame, Neymar is known worldwide by just his first name. To family and friends, he is also called Juninho, which means junior in Portuguese. Portuguese is the official language of Brazil.

A Passion for Soccer

Like many kids around the world, Neymar was obsessed with soccer. It is a game you can play with just a ball and a couple of sticks to make a goal. You do not need a special field or expensive equipment. Many kids without the money to buy balls will make them from paper, rags, plastic bags, string, rubber tires, or anything else that can be made into a round shape and kicked. Neymar, although he was fortunate enough to have his own soccer balls, played soccer with his friends in the pebbly, dusty streets of his neighborhood.

Neymar takes a penalty shot during a World Cup match against Croatia.

His parents were devoted to him and encouraged his love of the sport. His father had briefly played professional soccer for a local team. His father, Neymar Sr., is known as Neymar Pai. Pai means father in Portuguese.

Neymar Pai spotted his sons talent at a very young age. He knew that in Brazil and elsewhere many kids dreamed of playing soccer professionally. Those dreams, however, rarely became a reality. However, from early on, Neymar Pai thought his boy might have what it takes to succeed.

Getting Noticed

Neymar did catch the eye of other adults in the soccer world. In fact, they told Neymars father that they wanted to coach him and see how far the boy could go. Neither Neymar Pai nor Neymars mother, Nadine, wanted to stand in his way. However, they thought the boy was too young. Besides, they did not have enough money for Neymar to play.

However, Neymar got started on his future soon enough. He played on indoor teams designed for children. He moved up to junior leagues. By the time he was a young teen, he was actively recruited for FIFA under-16 and under-17 teams. FIFA stands for Fdration Internationale de Football Association (the French phrase meaning International Federation of Association Football). In most countries, soccer is called football.

Soccer became Neymars life. He was a good teammate with a range of skills. After playing many positions on the soccer field, or pitch, Neymars coaches decided his best fit was as a striker.

A striker is the player who usually scores the most goals in a game. As such, strikers are often teams stars. (Although, sometimes, strikers who miss their goal shots get booed.)

Opponents became increasingly wary of Neymars playing ability. Defenders on the opponents teams did their best to keep Neymar from coming out from the sidelines and taking the ball away from them.

Neymar is athletic and a quick thinker on the pitch. His exceptional talent carried him into professional leagues. He has played for his hometown, for his state, and on national and international teams.

Not only does Neymar thrill his fans with his extraordinary skill, but he also stays in the spotlight with dramatic antics on the field and attention-getting behavior off the field. Many sports commentators say Neymars theatrics may be overblown, and in some cases, his actions off the pitch have created scandals and controversies. Despite these things, millions of soccer fans believe that Neymars exciting style and skill have earned him a rightful place on the worlds stage.