With Neymar Jr. now officially out of Europe – football’s biggest and most competitive place to play, let’s look at some of the stats the Brazilian forward carries with him as he moves to Saudi Club Al-Hilal.
The Rise of Neymar.
Not too long ago, Brazil’s Neymar Jr. was positioned as the destined successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the football world. It appeared that if anyone had the potential to disrupt the Messi-Ronaldo dominance of the Ballon d’Or and stake a claim as the era’s finest player, it was Neymar – hailing from Santos, the young prodigy who seemed the most probable contender.
With youth on his side and endowed with the essential talent and football prowess, Neymar possessed the tools to establish himself among the upper echelons of football. Moreover, his trajectory seemed to be aligned with a prosperous career. In December 2011, during the FIFA Club World Cup final in Japan, Neymar’s former club Santos squared off against Barcelona.
Even though Lionel Messi netted two goals in Barcelona’s commanding 4-0 victory over the Brazilian club, it marked the inaugural moment when Neymar’s exceptional talent shone on the global platform.
During that tournament, the young Neymar found the back of the net on a solitary occasion, achieving this feat in the semifinal clash against the Japanese team Kashiwa Reysol. Merely 19 years old then, Neymar appeared to be on a predetermined path toward an illustrious future.
The Arrival at Barcelona- The MSN Era
A mere two years later, Neymar made his way to Barcelona, where he teamed up with football icon Lionel Messi. This move materialized as he transitioned from Santos to the La Liga club, although the circumstances surrounding his transfer were far from clear.
Regrettably, his transfer garnered significant attention, but for less than ideal reasons. Allegations surfaced suggesting that members of the Barcelona board might have utilized questionable means to secure the deal, even potentially involving Neymar’s father. This situation could have been a forewarning of the tumult that would encircle Neymar’s tenure at Barcelona and extend beyond those bounds.
Yet, true to his innate talent and promising potential, Neymar swiftly captivated Barcelona fans at Camp Nou. He left an indelible mark by finding the net in his very first El Clasico match and subsequently amassing an impressive tally of 68 goals in 123 appearances for the esteemed Catalan club.
Nonetheless, it was Neymar’s dynamic partnership with the other two prominent Barcelona forwards, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez – the latter arriving a year later from Liverpool – that would secure an everlasting place for him within the hearts of Barcelona aficionados.
Fondly referred to as MSN, this triumvirate crafted one of the most formidable attacking tridents ever witnessed in football’s annals, leaving a path of overwhelmed defenders in their wake.
The 2015 UEFA Champions League triumph, marking Barcelona’s most recent conquest in the tournament, provided Neymar with his solitary experience of glory in the pinnacle competition of European club football. Yet, this achievement arrived with its own set of consequences.
At that time, the football world was enraptured by the Brazilian prodigy’s capabilities. The triumph in the Champions League propelled Neymar’s valuation to unprecedented heights, drawing the attention of admirers and aspirants eager to secure his services for their respective clubs. Although Barcelona came tantalizingly close to replicating their remarkable sextuple victory of the 2008-09 season, Neymar’s trajectory began to take a downward turn.
The Move To PSG
Barcelona’s triumphant exploits in the Champions League cemented the board’s belief in their ability to maintain a consistent stream of victories on the grand stage of football.
Their initial strategy for this endeavor revolved around fortifying the midfield of the Blaugrana. Italian maestro Marco Verratti swiftly emerged as a prime candidate to reinforce the Barcelona roster, embodying all the attributes the club sought in a midfield dynamo.
Yet, PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi harbored an alternative vision, one fueled by his ambition to clinch the most prestigious accolades in club football with his newly-acquired Paris Saint-Germain squad. In a move that caught the world off guard, particularly the Barcelona board, Al-Khelaifi set his sights on Neymar.
Surprisingly, Al-Khelaifi boldly executed a maneuver that defied conventions and expectations: he activated Neymar’s astronomical release clause of €222 million, a sum previously deemed unfathomable. This audacious move successfully enticed Neymar away from Barcelona, leaving the Catalan club bereft of one of their most prized assets.
Despite earnest pleas from his teammates to remain at Camp Nou, Neymar departed, leaving a trail of heartbreak among the club’s devoted fans. Adding to the emotional turmoil was Gerard Piqué’s social media affirmation of Neymar’s commitment to Barcelona.
Nevertheless, Neymar’s transfer would undoubtedly be etched as one of PSG’s most ill-fated transactions, setting the stage for a series of ensuing challenges and complications for the French club.
The Decline
Setting aside the statistics, Neymar’s departure from Barcelona left a sour taste among the majority of his fellow countrymen. The prevailing consensus was that his move was primarily motivated by financial considerations, with his weekly wages soaring to an astonishing €720,000. This sum stands as the stuff of dreams for many players, although it’s worth noting that Barcelona’s compensation was also quite substantial.
Evidently, Neymar’s exit from Barcelona was driven by his desire to emerge from the considerable shadow cast by Lionel Messi. Remaining in the supporting role to the diminutive Argentine at Camp Nou wouldn’t have served his aspirations for the Ballon d’Or well, hence his transition to PSG unfolded.
Paris embraced Neymar with open arms, providing him every conceivable comfort. He proceeded to exhibit his goal-scoring prowess for the Parisian club, accumulating an impressive tally of 47 goals in 57 appearances up to now. However, PSG’s inability to progress to the advanced stages of the Champions League has constrained Neymar’s opportunities to outshine the likes of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the tournament.
Struggling with frequent injuries and disciplinary concerns that intermittently sidelined him, Neymar has paradoxically been eclipsed by his own teammate Kylian Mbappe. Curiously, in Paris, Neymar finds himself playing second fiddle to the Parisian prodigy Mbappe, echoing the role he once occupied at Barcelona.
Undoubtedly, Neymar’s footballing prowess remains unquestioned. However, his image has often been marred by a perception of disruptive behavior, contrasting with the professional discipline expected of an elite athlete. His inclination for revelry and late-night video gaming has drawn disapproval from PSG’s management and ownership.
Frank Lebouf and fellow French internationals have cautioned Mbappe against emulating Neymar’s path, despite their seemingly harmonious rapport. Lebouf, in particular, does not view Neymar as an exemplary role model for budding footballers, a perspective grounded in tangible concerns.
Witnessing a talent of Neymar’s caliber languishing in the relative anonymity of Ligue 1 is undeniably disheartening. The football league’s stature, in terms of quality and widespread appeal, doesn’t compare to the likes of La Liga or the Premier League, which accentuates the regrettable waste of a generational talent.
