Who is Neymar’s sister Rafaella Santos, and who does she model for?

RAFAELLA SANTOS is a social media sensation and the younger sister of Brazilian football superstar Neymar.

She has pursued a successful career in modelling which has contributed to her staggering 5.6 million follower count on Instagram – and she may be in Qatar cheering her brother on at the World Cup.

And Rafaella is now one of the most recognisable faces on the planet despite her big brother’s superstar status.

But who exactly is she and why is she famous?

Who is Rafaella Santos?

Born Rafaella Da Silva Santos on March 11, 1996, the model legally changed her surname to Beckran once of the appropriate age.

Brazilian tabloid Globo claim that the surname change was in honour of her childhood idol, David Beckham.

She was raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil with her older brothers, Joclecio Amancio dos Santos and Neymar Jr.

Rafaella had previously been in a relationship with former Inter Milan forward Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa who was spotted early in on her modelling career but the couple decided to go their separate ways in 2018.

Following that, Neymar’s sisters social media influence began to sky rocket with supporters being treated to the blonde beauty showing off her outfits alongside modelling for a number of organisations.

With some of the money Rafaella has made, she heavily invested in the charity Instituto Neymar –  a charity her older brother created in 2014 which focuses on helping disadvantaged children who live in their home town of Praia Grande, Sao Paulo.

Neymar and Rafaella pictured with their mother Nadine Da Silva

Why is she famous?

Rafaella made her name in modelling when he starred in a World Cup-themed advert for Beats by Dre in 2014.

Since then, Rafaella has gone on to model for a number of clothing brands which has landed her in the limelight along with being related to Brazilian icon Neymar.

She has an incredibly close relationship with her brother which has stretched as far as them getting matching tattoos and the pair even have tattoos of each other printed on their bodies.

Speaking about his sister, Neymar once said: “My heart is yours, my love is yours, my smile is yours, my day, my night, my longing, my best company”.

Their bond has caused a lot of controversy and has even led people to believe that there is a “curse of Neymar’s sisters birthday”

Neymar has always shared a close bond with his sister Rafaella

What is the curse of Neymar sister’s birthday?

Whilst at Barcelona, Neymar reportedly always flew back to Brazil to be with his family on March 11 even though they are still in season.

The global star would ask for permission from his manager and captains before he was allowed to make the trip back to his home country.

But he has coincidently been struck with injuries around the time of Rafaella’s birthday, most recently in mid-February 2021 when Neymar sustained a muscular issue which ruled him out for a minimum of four weeks.