Neymar scored his final international goal at the same stadium where he netted his first one 16 years earlier, becoming the first player to bookend an international career with goals at the same venue. MetLife Stadium witnessed both acts: his debut goal against the United States in August 2010, and a late consolation in Brazil’s 2-1 loss to Norway in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 on July 6.

From pitch to pixels

In January 2022, he purchased two Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs for a combined price exceeding $1 million, paying 159.99 ETH for one and 189.69 ETH for the other. He wasn’t alone among athletes, but he was easily the most visible soccer player to make a bet that large on digital collectibles.

Before that, in November 2021, he signed an exclusive licensing agreement with NFTSTAR for official Neymar Jr. NFT collections. The timing landed right at the peak of the NFT frenzy, when floor prices for blue-chip collections were climbing weekly.

The BAYC floor price has cratered from its 2022 highs. Neymar’s ape purchases, made near the top, are now worth a fraction of what he paid.

The meme token nobody asked for

Then there’s Neymar Coin ($NEY), a Solana-based meme token. Neymar himself has no official affiliation with it. Trading volume for $NEY has been historically low outside of major events.

What 130 caps and 79 goals mean for fan tokens

Neymar’s 130 caps and 79 goals across a 16-year international career make him one of Brazil’s most prolific scorers. Brazilian football fan tokens have historically seen volume bumps during World Cup cycles. The 2022 tournament in Qatar drove noticeable trading activity for tokens tied to national teams and star players.

What investors should actually watch

Neymar’s BAYC purchases remain a useful case study in timing risk. Neymar bought NFTs in January 2022. The market peaked weeks later. His career ended with the same poetic timing, scoring at the same stadium where it all started. One of those symmetries is beautiful. The other cost him seven figures.