Neymar And The 400 Goals He's Set For Himself In Brazil

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a teammate as good as Lionel Messi? Or an entire team of teammates that are as good as Cristiano Ronaldo? I’m sure many of you have. The answer is, it probably wouldn’t be all that different than having one as a professional footballer. For Neymar, the answer is very clear. The 25-year-old forward for Brazilian club Santos has already scored a league-record 380 career goals in just 437 games with the team. To top it all off, he’s on his way to achieving even more milestones this year with Brazil at the 2014 World Cup in his home country. With only five matches left at Santos Recreativo's side before the end of the season, Neymar and his teammates know they still have plenty of work ahead of them. But how far can they go? Let’s take a look at what else he’s already accomplished in Brazil and see if there’s anything else he can set his sights on when the tournament begins next month…

What other records have Neymar already broken?

The list of records that Neymar has broken in his short career as a professional footballer can be quite long. While he is currently tops in Brazil with 380 goals in 437 games for Santos, he also has a record for most goals in a calendar year, with 40 in 2013. In addition, Neymar has a record for most goals scored in a single international competition, with 19 goals in Brazil’s Hexagonal ties against Portugal and Russia.

He already has a league-record 380 career goals for Santos

Even before he was the most expensive player in the world when he was signed by Barcelona for $68 million in 2014, Neymar had a large number of goals to his name. In fact, he already has a league-record 380 career goals for Santos, which dates back to his debut in 2012. How much longer can he go? That’s the million-dollar question. While he’s managed to get close on a few occasions, including his young age, today’s player is tomorrow’s player. And after experiencing life as a professional footballer for a few years, Neymar knows he has plenty more to offer in that department ahead of him.

He’s on his way to achieving even more milestones this year with Brazil at the 2014 World Cup in his home country

In addition to his club and country records, there are a number of records that stand out for the 24-year-old attacker at this year’s World Cup in Brazil. First and foremost, he already has a goal in the tournament, which came in the 2-1 win over Croatia in their group opener. In addition, he has three assists to his name, giving him a total of six at the World Cup. That’s already more than any other player in Brazil’s squad, and it’s likely he can add another three or four before the tournament is over. When all is said and done, his six World Cup goals will put him in a tie for third place all-time with Pele and Ronaldo for most career goals for Brazil. And with two matches left to play, he’s only eight goals behind teammate Neymar Jr. for the record for most goals for a single club in a career.

What else can he set his sights on when the tournament begins next month?

After Brazil’s opening match against Croatia, Neymar will lead the team out against Costa Rica on June 18. After that, Brazil will face South American rivals Argentina in their tournament opener on June 20, before playing Germany in their penultimate match on June 23. After that, it’s back to Real Madrid for Neymar, where he’ll likely team up with Ronaldo again. However, the two could end up in conflict with one another, as the two former teammates have been rivals on and off the field since they were kids. That said, they’ve managed to work together successfully in the past, so there’s a chance for things to turn out okay.

Is There Anything Else At This Point For Neymar?

As mentioned, after the end of the season, Neymar will head back to Real Madrid for an official transfer. However, he’ll first have to finish his contract with Santos, which has two years left on the deal. In order to secure the signing of the world’s most expensive player, the Brazilian club has offered him a new contract worth $4.2 million per year, which he has turned down. The deal also includes a clause that allows the club to release him in case of “material breach” of contract, but Santos doesn’t believe he’s in breach of that. If he does leave, he’ll likely begin his career at another club. However, he’s publicly stated that he wants to stay with Santos, so it’s likely he’ll continue to play for the team at some point in his career.

Key Takeaway

Now that Neymar has put his immense talent on display in Brazil, it’s time for him to head back to his home country and show his worth to his club and country. Will he be able to join Santos’s legend, Pelé, and achieve even more than he has with the team already? Only time will tell, but it certainly won’t be an easy task. While he’s a talented player and has a bright future ahead of him, he’ll have to earn his place on the field with the help of his teammates. And after leading them all-comers scoring eight goals and adding an assist in the Copa Do Brazil, a record for most goals in a single tournament for Brazil, he’ll have a good idea of where he stands with the rest of the squad.