Neymar has reportedly been named the sole heir to a Brazilian billionaire’s fortune worth more than £840 million, despite claims the pair never even met.
According to reports from Brazilian outlet RIC, the extraordinary will was signed in Porto Alegre and officially authenticated on June 12 in the presence of two witnesses.
The unnamed businessman, described as both wealthy and reclusive, is said to have left no immediate heirs.
With no children or spouse, he allegedly chose Neymar as the beneficiary of his estate.
Neymar currently plays for Santos in Brazil, having returned to his boyhood club in January
|GETTY
The reasoning, per local media, appears deeply personal.
The billionaire was said to admire Neymar’s close bond with his father, Neymar Sr, a relationship that reminded him of his own late father.
That sense of family connection, as well as identifying with Neymar’s journey from humble beginnings to global stardom, reportedly led him to make the Santos and Brazil legend his heir.
Legal experts have noted that, while the will has been validated, the process is far from over.
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Brazilian courts will still need to review the matter before Neymar can officially inherit the fortune.
Challenges could arise, particularly if distant relatives or other parties come forward with claims to the estate.
Neymar himself has yet to comment publicly on the reports, and his focus appears firmly on football.
After an injury-hit spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, the 33-year-old returned to his boyhood club Santos in January.
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Neymar has blown hot and cold since his return to Santos
| GETTYHe managed three goals in 14 appearances in the second half of the campaign, a far cry from his first spell at the club where he struck 136 times in 225 matches between 2009 and 2013.
Earlier this summer, Neymar extended his contract with Santos, signalling his desire to write a new chapter in the place where his career began.
The forward also set his sights on representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, with national selectors already monitoring his progress.
Explaining his decision to return home, Neymar said in a heartfelt statement: “I made a decision and I listened to my heart.
"Santos is not just my team, it is my home, my roots, my history and my life. Here I was a boy who became a man, and I am truly loved.
"Here I can be myself, truly happy. And it is here that I want to fulfil the dreams that are missing in my career.
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| PA"And nothing will stop me. I go, I come back and I stay. Where it all began and where it will never end.”
If the inheritance is confirmed, it would add yet another twist to Neymar’s already extraordinary career.