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Happy Birthday Neymar! The 20 most dazzling moments from the Brazilian wonderkid's career so far

As the Santos striker leaves his teenage years behind, Goal.com celebrates the achievements which have already come both personally and for his international and domestic teams

05-Feb-2012 12:42:21 PM

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Neymar - Santos

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By Tom Webber

At only 20 years of age, Neymar is already an extremely decorated individual. In his three previous years with the first team, he has already been a part of two Campeonato Paulista-winning campaigns, a Copa do Brasil title, and Santos' first Copa Libertadores title in over 40 years.

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His ability has also seen numerous individual accolades bestowed upon his person, but where do these compare to his many other achievements since bursting on to the scene in 2009? From the Copa Sao Paulo youth tournament to the Club World Cup, these are the 20 most defining moments of the Brazilian prodigy's career to date.

20 | A 15-year-old Neymar made his debut in the 2008 Copa Sao Paulo. Despite only playing 15 minutes he still managed to display his immense potential. He then went on to shine in the 2009 edition of the youth tournament, scoring three goals in five games.

19 | Following his impressive displays in the Copa Sao Paulo, Neymar was given his opportunity in the first team as Santos struggled financially. In his debut season in the 2009 Campeonato Paulista he was voted the best young player of the tournament.

18 | After missing much of the domestic season on international duty, on October 29 last year Neymar hit Atletico Paranaense for four in an excellent display - outshining Lionel Messi, who only managed a hat-trick against Mallorca on the same day.

17 | With the wait for the Club World Cup over, Neymar announced himself with a beautifully placed, curled goal in the semi-final against Kashiwa Reysol. Barcelona in the final were a bridge too far for the Brazilians but Neymar was awarded the 'Bronze Ball' as the third-best player in the tournament behind Lionel Messi and Xavi.

16 | One week after making his debut for the first team in the 2-1 win over Oeste, Neymar scored his first senior goal in the 3-0 win over Mogi Mirim in the 2009 Paulistao.

15 | The Brazilian prodigy was in inspired form as Brazil beat Argentina over two legs to win the Superclasico de las Americas title. Neymar's goal in the second leg put the all-South American tie beyond doubt.

14 | In a thumping 10-0 win over Naviraiense in the Copa do Brasil the young striker bagged a brace. His second goal constituted a coruscating dribble, close control and flair, as well as the audacity to round the keeper and slot into an empty net after already beating three players in the area.

13 | After playing together in a charity match, Brazilian legend Ronaldo heaped praise upon Neymar through his Twitter account, stating: "Thinking outside the box: if I was lucky enough to play with Neymar and Robinho as my attacking partners, I would not have stopped so early,"

12 | With Brazil needing a win to assure qualification for the knockout stages of the Copa America in their final group game, Neymar answered his critics and scored two goals in a 4-2 win over Ecuador.

11 | The goal that alerted the world to the virtuoso striker's talent was his opener in the win over Santo Andre in the 2010 Paulistao. After receiving the ball wide on the left he drove to the top of the box, beating three players in the process. He feigned to shoot with his left and cut inside, eliminating two players from the game and slotting into the far corner.

10 | Pele kept up his record as one of world football's most outspoken critics when he announced that Neymar was the best player in the world. "I think Neymar is better than Messi, he is more complete." Whether you agree or disagree with the Santos hero, that is praise of the highest order.

9 | After an astonishing year in 2011, both individually and as a part of Santos, Neymar edged out the impressive Eduardo Vargas as he was crowned the 2011 South American footballer of the year.

8 | Accompanied by Robinho, Andre, Wesley and Ganso, Santos stormed to the 2010 Paulistao title. With quick and lethal attacking football, the players were credited with reviving the Santastico spirit at the club.

7 | Brazil were unstoppable in the Under-20 South American Championship held in Peru with Neymar at the forefront. He contributed a magnificent nine goals, making him the tournament's top scorer as Brazil picked up the title. Four of those goals came in the final as Brazil crushed Paraguay 4-2.

6 | Neymar scored an astonishing five goals as Santos crushed Guarani 8-1 en route to the 2010 Copa do Brasil title. He was becoming an ever-more-clinical finisher, capable of scoring with both feet. He added to his tally in the competition with a goal in the first leg of the final against Vitoria before Peixe were crowned champions.

5 | After a series of phenomenal displays throughout 2011, speculation linking Neymar with a move to either Real Madrid or Barcelona was rife. On 9 November 2011, however, he signed a contract extension to keep him at Santos until after the 2014 World Cup, at least delaying rumours of a move to Europe.

4 | Despite his international inexperience, there was huge pressure on Dunga to take the youngster to the 2010 World Cup. Dunga did not relent but Neymar received his first international call up from Mano Menezes soon after. On August 10 2010, aged 18, Neymar scored his debut goal with a header against the USA.

3 | Despite a rocky campaign at times, including a change of manager from Adilson Batista to Muricy Ramalho, Santos secured their second consecutive Paulistao in 2011. It was the start of a double-winning campaign for the Sao Paulo side as they picked up the Copa Libertadores title in the following months.

2 | On a sodden night in Sao Paulo, Neymar supplied a moment of sheer class as he scored a teriffic solo goal against Flamengo in a nine-goal thriller. Though the Carioca outfit came out on top in the end, the brilliance of the goal was not forgotten and he won the 2011 Fifa Puskas award for scoring the best goal of the year in world football.

1 | After a 0-0 draw with Penarol in the first leg of the 2011 Copa Libertadores, Neymar opened the scoring in the second leg of the final as he led his team to victory. It was the first Libertadores title that Peixe had won in 48 years, since the days of Pele. As well as Santos being crowned victors, Neymar was also heralded as the Player of the Tournament.

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