Creating a virtual version of your favorite football player in FIFA can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Few players are as electrifying and recognizable as Neymar Jr., the Brazilian superstar. This guide will provide you with a detailed, step-by-step process to create a convincing Neymar Jr. lookalike in FIFA 23’s Create Player mode, covering everything from his physical attributes to his signature skills. While the game may evolve with subsequent editions (FIFA 24, FIFA 25, etc.), the fundamental principles of player creation remain largely consistent, allowing this guide to remain relevant with minor adjustments.
**I. Understanding the Goal: Capturing Neymar’s Essence**
Before diving into the nitty-gritty details, it’s crucial to understand what makes Neymar, Neymar. We’re not just aiming for a generic footballer; we want to capture his distinctive features and playing style. Consider the following aspects:
* **Physical Appearance:** Neymar’s hairstyle is iconic, as is his relatively lean build. He’s not overly muscular but possesses a natural athleticism.
* **Facial Features:** Focus on his eyes, nose, mouth, and jawline. Subtle adjustments can make a big difference.
* **Playing Style:** Neymar is known for his dribbling, flair, agility, and finishing ability. We need to replicate these attributes in the game.
* **Preferred Foot:** He is primarily a right-footed player.
* **Weak Foot and Skill Moves:** He possesses a strong weak foot and exceptional skill moves.
With these aspects in mind, let’s begin the creation process.
**II. Navigating the Create Player Menu**
1. **Access Create Player:** From the FIFA 23 main menu, navigate to the “Customize” section. Inside, you’ll find the “Create Player” option. Select this to begin.
2. **New Player:** Choose the option to create a new player. You will be prompted to select a position. While Neymar typically plays as a Winger (LW or RW) or Forward (CF), you have some flexibility. Choosing Winger is generally the best starting point.
3. **Player Information:** This is where you enter the basic details:
* **Name:** First Name: Neymar; Last Name: da Silva Santos Júnior. If the game restricts the full name, use “Neymar Jr.” or “Neymar”.
* **Nickname:** Neymar (if available). Some versions of FIFA will offer this as a pre-set nickname.
* **Shirt Name:** NEYMAR JR.
* **Country:** Brazil
* **Club:** This is up to you. Consider his current or past clubs (e.g., Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Santos). You can also leave him unattached and add him to a team later.
* **League:** Dependent on the club you choose.
* **Kit Number:** 10 (his most iconic number, though he has worn other numbers throughout his career).
**III. Sculpting the Face: Recreating Neymar’s Likeness**
This is arguably the most challenging but also the most crucial part of the process. FIFA’s face sculpting tools offer a surprising amount of customization. Be patient and refer to high-quality images of Neymar for reference.
1. **Base Head:** Start with a base head that resembles Neymar’s face shape. Look for options that have a similar jawline and cheekbone structure. Don’t worry about details yet; focus on the overall shape.
2. **Head Shape:**
* **Height:** Adjust the height to be slightly above average. Neymar is not exceptionally tall, but he’s not short either. Experiment within the range of 175-180 cm (approximately 5’9″ – 5’11”).
* **Width:** Adjust the width to create a slightly oval face shape. Don’t make it too round or too narrow.
3. **Brow:**
* **Position:** Neymar’s eyebrows are relatively straight and positioned slightly above his eyes. Adjust the position accordingly.
* **Shape:** Choose a brow shape that is mostly straight with a slight arch towards the outer edges. Avoid overly arched or overly bushy brows.
* **Angle:** Keep the angle relatively neutral. A slight upward angle can add a touch of expressiveness.
4. **Eyes:**
* **Position:** Adjust the eye position to be slightly closer together. Neymar’s eyes are not widely spaced.
* **Size:** Slightly above average. Not overly large, but noticeable.
* **Angle:** A slight upward tilt can give him a more dynamic look.
* **Color:** Dark brown or black.
5. **Nose:**
* **Size:** Medium. Not too large, not too small.
* **Width:** Slightly wider at the base. Neymar has a somewhat distinctive nose shape.
* **Position:** Adjust the position so that it aligns naturally with the other facial features.
6. **Cheeks:**
* **Shape:** Slightly defined cheekbones. Don’t make them too prominent, but ensure they are visible.
* **Position:** Adjust the position to complement the overall face shape.
7. **Mouth:**
* **Size:** Medium.
* **Width:** Average.
* **Position:** Ensure the mouth aligns properly with the other facial features. Pay attention to the upper lip shape.
8. **Jaw:**
* **Width:** Slightly defined jawline. Not too square, not too round.
* **Position:** Adjust the position to create a balanced face shape.
9. **Chin:**
* **Size:** Medium. Not too prominent, not too receding.
* **Shape:** Slightly rounded.
* **Position:** Ensure the chin aligns properly with the other facial features.
**IV. Hairstyling: Capturing Neymar’s Ever-Changing Look**
Neymar is known for his frequent hairstyle changes. FIFA’s Create Player mode offers a variety of hairstyles, and you can choose one that best represents his current or a past iconic look.
* **Current Style (as of late 2023/early 2024):** He frequently sports shorter, textured styles. Look for short, curly, or wavy options that can be dyed a dark brown or black. A fade on the sides can also replicate his contemporary look.
* **Classic Mohawk:** This is one of Neymar’s most recognizable hairstyles. Look for a mohawk option that allows you to adjust the height and width.
* **Bleached Blonde:** He’s often experimented with bleached or dyed hair. You can choose a hairstyle and then customize the color.
**Hair Color:** Typically dark brown or black. If you are replicating a bleached look, select a suitable blonde shade.
**V. Physical Attributes: Building the Athlete**
This section focuses on Neymar’s physical characteristics and how to replicate them in the game.
* **Height:** 175 cm – 180 cm (5’9″ – 5’11”). Experiment within this range to find what looks best visually with the face you’ve created.
* **Weight:** Lean build. Adjust the weight slider to reflect this. Avoid making him too muscular or too skinny. Somewhere between 65-70 kg is a good starting point.
* **Body Type:** Lean or Average. Avoid the ‘Stocky’ or ‘Bulky’ body types.
**VI. Player Attributes: Mimicking Neymar’s Skills**
This is where you define Neymar’s playing style. Be generous with his key attributes to make him a formidable player in the game.
* **Pace:** 90-95. Neymar is incredibly quick and agile.
* **Acceleration:** 92-97. Essential for quick bursts of speed.
* **Sprint Speed:** 88-93. Maintaining a high top speed.
* **Dribbling:** 95-99. This is Neymar’s signature skill. Max it out or get as close as possible.
* **Agility:** 95-99. Crucial for his quick turns and changes of direction.
* **Balance:** 90-95. Maintaining his balance while dribbling at speed.
* **Finishing:** 90-95. A clinical finisher in front of goal.
* **Shot Power:** 85-90. Powerful shots from distance.
* **Long Shots:** 80-85. Capable of scoring from outside the box.
* **Volleys:** 80-85. Decent at volleys.
* **Penalties:** 85-90. A reliable penalty taker.
* **Vision:** 90-95. Excellent vision and passing range.
* **Crossing:** 80-85. Can deliver accurate crosses.
* **Short Passing:** 90-95. Accurate short passing.
* **Long Passing:** 80-85. Good long passing ability.
* **Curve:** 90-95. Essential for his bending free kicks and shots.
* **Free Kick Accuracy:** 85-90. A threat from free kicks.
* **Reactions:** 90-95. Quick reactions to loose balls and opportunities.
* **Composure:** 90-95. Performing well under pressure.
* **Interceptions:** 30-40 (Neymar is not known for his defensive work rate).
* **Heading Accuracy:** 70-75. Not a primary strength, but decent.
* **Defensive Awareness:** 30-40. Low defensive awareness.
* **Standing Tackle:** 30-40. Poor standing tackle.
* **Sliding Tackle:** 30-40. Poor sliding tackle.
* **Jumping:** 75-80. Decent jumping ability.
* **Stamina:** 85-90. Good stamina for lasting through matches.
* **Strength:** 65-70. Not overly strong, but not weak either.
* **Aggression:** 70-75. A moderate level of aggression.
**VII. Player Traits: Adding Signature Moves**
Player Traits add specific behaviors to your created player. Here are some traits that are relevant to Neymar’s playing style:
* **Finesse Shot:** Essential for his curling shots into the top corner.
* **Flair:** Crucial for his skill moves and unpredictable play.
* **Technical Dribbler:** Improves his dribbling ability.
* **Playmaker:** Reflects his ability to create chances for others.
* **Outside Foot Shot:** Allows him to take shots with the outside of his foot.
* **Speed Dribbler:** Enhances his dribbling speed.
* **Avoids Using Weaker Foot:** Reflects his preference for his right foot (though he has a good weak foot).
**VIII. Weak Foot and Skill Moves: Maximizing Potential**
* **Weak Foot:** 4 stars. Neymar has a surprisingly good weak foot.
* **Skill Moves:** 5 stars. Neymar is known for his exceptional skill moves. This is a must-have.
**IX. Preferred Foot and Work Rate:**
* **Preferred Foot:** Right.
* **Attacking Work Rate:** High. He is always looking to attack.
* **Defensive Work Rate:** Low. He doesn’t contribute much defensively.
**X. Fine-Tuning and Adjustments:**
Once you’ve completed the above steps, take your created Neymar into a practice match or a career mode game. Observe his movements, dribbling, and shooting. Make adjustments to his attributes and traits as needed to further refine his likeness and playing style. Don’t be afraid to experiment and iterate. The goal is to create a player that feels authentic to Neymar’s style on the pitch.
**XI. Transferring to Your Desired Team (Career Mode):**
If you didn’t assign him to a team during creation, you can add your custom Neymar to your favorite club in Career Mode or Kick-Off. In Career Mode, you can use the “Edit Teams” option to transfer him from the Free Agents pool (or the team you initially assigned him to) to your desired squad. Remember, transferring him to a different team might slightly alter his overall rating due to team chemistry and role within the squad, but his individual attributes will remain unchanged.
**XII. Conclusion: Enjoy Your Created Neymar**
Creating a realistic Neymar Jr. in FIFA 23 requires patience, attention to detail, and a good understanding of his playing style. By following this guide, you should be able to craft a convincing virtual version of the Brazilian superstar and enjoy his flair and skill on the virtual pitch. Remember that FIFA is constantly evolving, and future versions (FIFA 24, FIFA 25, etc.) may offer even more advanced customization options. This guide provides a solid foundation, and you can adapt it to future iterations of the game. Now get out there and start dazzling opponents with your custom-made Neymar Jr.! Remember to keep an eye out for roster updates as the game progresses, as these may provide more accurate real-world data that you can then incorporate into your created player for added realism.
**XIII. Common Issues and Troubleshooting:**
* **Face Looks Unnatural:** This is often due to mismatched facial features. Double-check that the proportions are correct and that the features align properly. Experiment with different base heads and subtle adjustments.
* **Player Doesn’t Move Like Neymar:** This is likely due to incorrect attribute settings. Ensure that his agility, balance, dribbling, and pace are high. Also, consider adding relevant player traits.
* **Overall Rating Too High/Low:** The overall rating is affected by various factors, including attributes, position, and potential. Adjust his attributes to achieve the desired overall rating. Keep in mind that some attributes have a greater impact than others.
* **Can’t Replicate Hairstyle:** FIFA’s hairstyle options are limited. Choose the closest available hairstyle and adjust the color accordingly. You might need to get creative and use your imagination.
* **Game Updates Overwrite Custom Player:** This is rare, but it can happen. Back up your custom player data periodically to avoid losing your progress. You can usually find this data in the game’s settings or file directory.
By carefully following these instructions and taking the time to fine-tune your creation, you can make a player that embodies the qualities of one of soccer’s most popular personalities.