FAMILY is everything for Neymar Jr, one of the greatest exponents of the beautiful game.
The PSG forward grew up in a poor slum in southern Brazil with mum Nadine Santos, dad Neymar Santos Sr, and younger sister Rafaella.
Neymar’s mum and dad were instrumental in his riseCredit: Reuters
While Neymar has always shared a close bond with his sister RafaellaCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
And despite his epic rise in the game – from making his debut aged 17 at Santos to becoming the most expensive player in the world when he signed for the French champions – he’s never forgotten his roots.
Here’s the story behind Neymar Jr’s family life.
MUM – NADINE GONCALVES
In 2016, Neymar Jr’s mum Nadine split from his dad after 25 years of marriage together.
But that brought the superstar even closer to her, and he’s always keen to share pictures and video of them together on social media, and also has her image tattooed on his arm.
And Nadine isn’t afraid to speak her mind when it comes to her son.
Neymar Jr dotes on his mum, NadineCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Neymar has given his approval to the relationship
Nadine Goncalves at a gala night in Sao Paulo
She told Spanish newspaper ABC in 2018 she wasn’t happy with PSG’s treatment of Neymar Jr and said he should move to Real Madrid, where he will be treated “as if he were one of the team.”
Now, rather bizarrely, 52-year-old Nadine has stolen the limelight off her son by dating a younger man.
She has shacked up with 22-year-old professional gamer Tiago Ramos.
Neymar loves his mum so much he has her name tattooed on his wrist and her face inked on his bicep.
He has her name tattooed on his wristCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Neymar revealed a tattoo of his mum’s face on his bicepCredit: instagram
Nadine Santos is very protective of her sonCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Nadine Santos once told a Spanish newspaper she thought her son should leave PSG for Real MadridCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
HER TOY-BOY LOVER – TIAGO RAMOS
Nadine’s new boyfriend is just 22, and is an avowed superfan of Neymar.
Nadine revealed on Instagram that she is dating gamer Tiago Ramos – which makes him Neymar’s new ‘step dad’ even though he is six years younger than him.
She posted a picture of herself embracing Ramos in a garden.
And she accompanied the snap with the caption: “The inexplicable cannot be explained, you live it… ❤️”
Brazilian outlet UEL Esporte has shed more light on Ramos, revealing him to be part of a gaming team called 4K Easy.
The 52-year-old is now dating professional gamer Tiago RamosCredit: Instagram / @tiagoramoss / Tiago Ramos
Ramos attended Neymar’s birthday party in February
And Neymar Jr has also also given the relationship his seal of approval too.
He commented on her Insta post: “Be happy mom ❤️ love you.”
To boot, Ramos is a self-confessed Neymar Jr superfan too.
Ramos is also a super-fan of her superstar son Neymar
SISTER – RAFAELLA BECKRAN
Neymar Jr’s best friend is his little sis, Raffaela.
The Brazil star never misses her birthday celebrations, and seems to always be injured or suspended for his club at the end of January so he can jet off and see her.
Unbelievably, that happened five years in a row!
In 2015, the pair showed their love for one another in tattoos when Neymar Jr got a portrait of his sister’s FACE on his right bicep.
She returned the favour and got a tattoo of his EYES on her right arm.
Rafaella is Neymar’s 24-year-old sisterCredit: Instagram / @rafaella
Neymar Jr and his sister are best friendsCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Neymar Jr has his sister’s face tattooed on his bicepCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Rafaella also has tattoos on her body in honour of her famous siblingCredit: Instagram / @rafaella
And their body art for each other doesn’t stop there.
Neymar Jr and Rafaella have matching crowns on their left arms – his has the word ‘Sorella’, which means sister in Italian, while hers reads ‘Fratello’, meaning brother.
Neymar Jr also has her name tattooed on his wrist.
He once wrote about her: “My heart is yours, my love is yours, my smile is yours, my day, my night, my longing, my best company”.
DAD – NEYMAR SANTOS SR
Although the family were poor, the former Barcelona star was never left wanting for anything.
His dad, a former footballer himself, always made sure his son had a ball to practice on the streets with.
Although he was talented, he never made it out of Mogi Das Cruzes – the industrial suburb where Neymar Jr was raised and played for semi-professional teams.
When Neymar Sr retired, he put all his efforts and focus into ensuring his son bettered his career.
After initially hiring Wagner Ribeiro as his agent and manager, it was Neymar Jr’s dad who soon became the person responsible for shaping the footballer’s career.
Ex-Santos coach Muricy Ramalho revealed how Neymar Sr was the driving force in his son’s life.
“We spoke a lot with his father before he went to Barca and he takes great care of Neymar’s professional and commercial life,” he told Goal.
Neymar Santos Sr has always been there for his son and grandsonCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Before he became Neymar’s agent, his dad was a semi-pro footballerCredit: Getty – Contributor
Insiders in the game say Neymar Santos Sr was the driving force behind his son’s careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
With Neymar Santos Sr’s help his son became the world’s most expensive footballer when he moved to PSGCredit: Getty – Contributor
Neymar’s dad is a celebrity in his own right in Brazil appearing on a float at Rio CarnivalCredit: Rex Features
“He put everything into place for Neymar to become the best in the world.”
In 2017, Neymar Sr secured the record-breaking £198million move from Camp Nou to Paris.
Neymar is said to worship his father, a celebrity in Brazil in his own right now, and once revealed: “My father has been by my side since I was little. He takes care of things, my finances and my family.”
SON – DAVI LUCCA DA SILVA SANTOS
Neymar became a father aged just 19.
His ex-girlfriend Carolina Nogueira gave birth to Davi in 2011 in a Sao Paulo hospital, when she was just 17.
They had split before Davi was born, however Neymar Jr kept a cordial relationship with the blonde beauty, and they are still on good terms today.
Neymar Jr became a dad at 19 to son DaviCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Davi’s mum is Neymar Jr’s ex-girlfriend Carolina NogueiraCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
Davi could follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a footballerCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
The Neymar family are close knit and always stick togetherCredit: Instagram / @neymarjr
That’s allowed Neymar Jr and Carolina share custody of their son, who may follow in the footsteps of his father and become a footballer.
When Davi was just six, he was enrolled at FCB Escola, a soccer camp run for young kids Barcelona.
He played alongside Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, and Lionel Messi’s kids… now how’s that for a youth super team?
Inside Neymar’s amazing £7million mansion with helipad where he is spending coronavirus crisis with his pals on Rio outskirts
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
