You could hardly describe it as a breakout year for the youngster; more the enhancement of a burgeoning reputation and a desire to prove any doubters wrong.
Rumours began in 2012 that the player wanted to come to Europe and sign for Barcelona. Perhaps the most unpalatable part of Neymar's year was the ridiculous soap opera that his transfer eventually became, dominating as it did the early part of 2013.
A precocious talent and wanted man from an early age, he began the year at his beloved Santos.
A team whom he left with an impressive goals to games ratio of 138 in 229, a team where he was clearly the main man and judging by the tears during his final appearance, a team that is close to his heart.
Yet Neymar didn't start the year too impressively, especially at the national level, it has to be said. A disappointing showing for Brazil against England at Wembley in February was surely indicative of the player's mind being elsewhere.
As the transfer saga appeared to be heading for closure during the spring, so we saw an improvement in the player's form and attitude.
An inspired individual performance against Uniao Barbarense saw Neymar bag all four goals in a 4–0 success in April and just a month later, Player-of-the-Tournament Neymar led Santos into the Paulistao final, losing narrowly to Corinthiansover the two legs.
His final game for Santos came on 26 May 2013 in a drab goalless draw againstFlamengo.
The time had come, Neymar was off to Barcelona—and what a sight greeted him upon his arrival.
Almost 60,000 fans turned up at Camp Nou to witness the first glimpse of the player inBlaugrana, and they provided the sort of atmosphere normally reserved for pop
At this point in the year Forbes released their list of wealthiest athletes and ranked him at number 68. At age 21, he had amassed $20.5 million from salary and endorsements. Not bad!
Later in the year, he would be talked about as the most marketable footballer in the world, ahead of both
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