Soccer star Neymar bought an empty waterfront lot in Miami for $26 million. He could be planning to build a 13,000-square-foot mansion

It is less than an acre and has been listed for sale previously: at one point for $30.5 million and on another occasion for $28.5 million, both this year, per Zillow. So it seems Neymar got a deal. But because it’s vacant land, he’ll need to build. The Wall Street Journal reported the offer included “approved plans for a 13,000-square-foot house designed by the London-based design firm Elicyon.” Listing agents Ruthie Assouline and Ethan Assouline of Douglas Elliman declined to comment to the Journal.

Bento Queiroz of Compass, who the Journal reported represented the buyer, declined to comment on his client’s identity. He did, however, say the privacy and security of the gated community plus the sheer size of the property attracted his client. “It came together rather quickly once we found the opportunity,” he told the publication. “The buyer said, ‘it’s exactly what I’m looking for.’” 

The seller is apparently Bent Philipson, who is listed as the prior owner, according to property records. He is the founder of Philosophy Care, a consulting firm for nursing homes and elder care facilities, which has had some legal troubles. It looks like he and his wife bought the property four years ago for $9.3 million. The Journal said he couldn’t be reached for comment.

Last year, another soccer star, the greatest of all time, bought a waterfront mansion in Fort Lauderdale: Lionel Messi. He purchased a 10-bedroom, nine-and-a-half-bathroom estate for $10.75 million. It’s in a gated community, Bay Colony, and has a pool, three-car garage, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Messi bought the property the same year he joined major league soccer team Inter Miami. Could it be a sign Neymar might be joining too? That I can’t tell you.

The average home value in Bal Harbour, Neymar’s new neighborhood, is almost $2 million; the average home value in Bay Colony is close to $5 million, per Zillow. Both areas have seen their home prices rise in the last year—but that isn’t the case for all of Florida, which is marked by natural disasters, insurance woes, and rising property taxes. It’s why a lot of the Sunshine State’s boomtowns have cooled off.