Neymar Jr’s social footprint in Praia Grande has grown into a 8,400-square-metre fortress of opportunity. The Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr, which officially opened its doors on December 23, 2014, now serves 3,000 children and teenagers aged 7 to 17. It’s not just a football academy. It’s a full-service community hub in Jardim Glória, the neighbourhood where Neymar spent his formative years, designed to intervene in the lives of families facing deep economic vulnerability.
The complex operates on land loaned by the Praia Grande city government under a 30-year agreement, renewable for another 30. Inside, the infrastructure is dense: classrooms for English, Spanish, and French sit alongside robotics labs, a cinema, and a library. But the centre goes further than standard schooling. It offers vocational courses for parents and a dedicated health wing where children receive cardiology, ophthalmology, and dental checks. It’s a vertical integration of support, from preventive healthcare to creative arts.
Sport remains the anchor, but the menu is varied. The grounds host a football field, a multi-sports court, and a heated swimming pool. Judo and dance studios operate alongside basketball and futsal programmes. The goal, according to the institute, is to build discipline and teamwork, skills that translate far beyond the pitch. For the local community, this isn’t charity; it’s infrastructure. It’s a place where a child from a struggling family gets a computer, a medical check-up, and a chance to learn coding, all under one roof.
The project was conceived in 2010 by Neymar and his family, driven by the specific circumstances of their own childhood. Local authorities initially projected the centre would benefit 2,300 children and reach 10,000 people including families. That capacity has since expanded to the current 3,000. As the institute continues to operate, the next phase involves sustaining these long-term services, ensuring that the 30-year land lease translates into three decades of tangible change for Jardim Glória.