Brazil superstar Neymar has splashed out $23 million (£17 million) on a luxury yacht immediately following his country's World Cup elimination and his own retirement from international football. The 34-year-old Santos forward made the purchase just days after Brazil's round of 16 defeat to Norway, a match in which he scored his 80th and final international goal from a consolation penalty.
Details of the Yacht Purchase
According to Nautica, the yacht is a converted cargo vessel built in Brazil. It arrived in Angra dos Reis in Rio de Janeiro state on Monday. The vessel measures more than 46 metres in length and boasts an 800-square-metre usable area. It is powered by four caterpillar engines, each delivering 1,450 horsepower. Yacht designer Fernando De Almeida is said to have designed the vessel, which has been dubbed 'Enejota'—a name relating to the Portuguese pronunciation of the letters 'NJ', representing Neymar Jr's initials.
Comparison to Other Footballers
Neymar follows in the footsteps of fellow footballers David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, who are also famous for their yacht purchases. Ronaldo splashed out £5.5 million on a notable purchase after his then club Juventus won Serie A in 2020. Beckham appeared to upgrade his yacht as of 2024, as the former England international and his wife Victoria were spotted on a £16 million boat, though it was unclear whether they owned the more expensive vessel.
Neymar's International Retirement
The purchase comes just days after Neymar called time on his international career. "I tried, I tried. Now, it's over," the forward told Globo. His comments related to the fact that his first and last appearances for Brazil both came at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He scored in both matches—a friendly against the United States in 2010 and the World Cup exit 16 years later—to finish with 80 senior goals for Brazil.
Impact on Brazil and Manager Carlo Ancelotti
The defeat to Norway brought an end to Carlo Ancelotti's first major tournament as Brazil manager. The Italian boss was determined to look to the future after a painful early exit caused by Erling Haaland's brace. "What I say is that we continue to do our jobs and look for new ideas," Ancelotti said. "It's the same thing we did this year."
