In his sixth season in Paris, Neymar announced his season reimbursement in the spring for the third time due to injury. Even last season, the Champions League knockout rounds were only rushed to complete the first leg as a substitute.
Six years ago, the chosen son who seemed to be only a matter of time before he succeeded Messi, 31-year-old Neymar, after tasting the warmth and coldness of the world, first thought about where he should go next.
01. Is it wrong to choose Paris? If it weren't for injuries, Neymar could have done a lot
Paris was chosen because of ambition: Neymar believes he can succeed
Many people say Neymar was wrong to leave Barca and should stay if he is given another chance. This may be because they don't know Neymar well enough, and he never chose Paris just because of the sky-high annual salary.
In the 2015 Champions League knockout stage, Neymar scored goals in every game since the last eight. In the knockout stages of the 2016 Olympic Games, Neymar was a corkscrew for the team to break the deadlock.
At Camp Nou in 2017, Neymar, who scored three goals in seven minutes, looked into the distance after the game, and his eyes were full of his own protagonist chapter.
Choosing Paris was not the best solution, but only this club was able to pay 222 million euros in liquidated damages.
Neymar has expressed more than once that he wants to play in the Premier League, but it is clear that the British team at that time could not come up with this huge amount of cash.
b. As long as healthy: Neymar can do a lot
Nestar missed his first two Champions League knockout matches in Paris because of two consecutive serious injuries. In the third year, Neymar, who was finally healthy, led two goals in the absence of Kylian Mbappe to lead the team to a 2-0 comeback to eliminate Borussia Dortmund.
Facing Atalanta in the subsequent round of eight, Neymar started with Icardi and Saravia and won 25 one-on-one ground games in a single game, making Champions League knockout records with 16 successful passes in a single game, and led the team to complete the comeback with two goals in the final moments.
Ibrahimovic said: "Even God and Zlatan cannot lead Paris to the last eight of the Champions League, let alone others. "Healthy Neymar did it, and Paris reached the Champions League final for the first time in history.
In the following 2020-21 season, Neymar was injured and Paris won 1-2 in the first three Champions League group games, and the team needed to win three consecutive games to avoid the embarrassment of going to the Europa League.
At Old Trafford, Neymar scored twice and took his team to death. Especially the second goal of that game, Neymar tackled the ball at the back of his own side and drove all the way forward, and finally scored without the ball into the box, leaving a classic No. 10 goal.
Neymar said: "I didn't come to Paris to play in the Europa League". Without his timely return from injury, Paris could have come that far.
Because that year Mbappe went from the entire Champions League knockout stage in 2019-20 (the year he reached the final) to the first five games of the Champions League group stage in 2020-21.
It wasn't until the final home game of the group stage against Istanbul that Neymar made a penalty and conceded to Kylian Mbappe to break his 10th Champions League game and get out of his heart.
It should be said that as long as Neymar remains healthy, his performance in Paris is still convincing, and Mbappe has benefited a lot from his side.
Even Mbappe's goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League came mostly from Neymar's assists or instigations.
The last time Allianz beat Bayern, many people only remember Mbappe scoring twice, but in fact, Neymar, who scored twice and led three goals, is the real leader.
He completely ripped apart the Bayern defence so that Mbappe could easily score the goal.
02. Is the injury Neymar's fault? He tried to smile and face it
a. He is the last samba dancer: but encounters the most violence on the green field
Neymar's style of play is in line with the most traditional South American aesthetic, and he also insists on his "dancer heart".
However, in this green era of "cold machinery", Neymar does not get respect and praise, but cold eyes and black feet.
Fouled 4.39 times per 90 minutes, Neymar became the most injured man. He had tried to tumble and attract attention and protection in this way, but he was met with more ridicule and malice.
So Neymar smiled at the guys who deliberately hurt him, but instead of being friendly, there were more fouls.
b. Out of injury after injury: Neymar hasn't given up yet
Injuries have affected Neymar's athleticism, and at 31 he is not as strong as he was six years ago.
Fortunately, Neymar has a stronger heart after the year of standing. In the first game of the World Cup group stage, he suffered a sprained ankle due to a malicious foul, but Neymar did not give up.
The World Cup knockout stage is back, contributing 2 goals and 1 assist in 2 games. Especially against Croatia's round of eight to extra time, Neymar once again scored the classic South American No. 10 goal.
This kind of use of hitting the wall with breaking the iron barrel formation, and even the goalkeeper has a clean kick, it is difficult to find a precedent in the history of the World Cup knockout round.
It is a pity that Neymar, who did his best, was eventually ruined by the stupid substitution of manager Tate. When Fred and Anthony came on, Neymar, who cried into tears after the game, was really more distressing.
03. Surgery is not chosen because of giving up: Neymar is ready to start over
As long as he is healthy: Neymar can still do a lot
From the statistics before Neymar's injury, you can see that he is the player with the highest internal shooting rate in Paris Saint-Germain this season.
However, Neymar, who has a lot of retreat and advancement tasks, averaged only 1.2 shots per game.
In the Paris striker trident at that time, Neymar, who had the fewest shots, was the most efficient. Actual number of goals - expected number of goals, only Neymar is positive.
Perhaps Mbappe is more confident in his shots under the big scene, but the stats don't lie, Neymar's consistency is actually better, it's just that he shoots too little.
At the same time, this season, Neymar's dribbling and passing feeling have reached a very high level.
This kind of shot that the opponent can't pull will be forgotten by many fans because the forward teammates don't get more in the end.
Perhaps the biggest regret is that this time Marseille's slalom was given to Mbappe's feet, not his former friend Suarez.
b. Should leave Ligue 1 as soon as possible: Neymar needs to start over
Neymar didn't have to complete this operation, after all, he wanted to cure old injuries, not just this time.
The reason for the sudden change of decision may also be related to his possible transfer in the summer window. To be ready for a new team, Neymar will also be eager for a fresh start.
It would be the best outcome to be possible to reunite with Thomas Tuchel, who built around him (reaching the Champions League final and turning back a slump in three group games the following year) at Chelsea.
Provided that Chelsea can reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar may also make some concessions on salary. He has spent the last six years in Ligue 1, and at the age of 31, he may be his last chance to start over.
Conclusion:
Should have achieved more, but because of the wrong choice of Paris, Neymar came to an embarrassing situation. The road is chosen by yourself, regret is useless, only by bravely continuing to move forward, there is a possibility of getting out of the quagmire.
From Neymar's stats and performances this season, fans who love him should understand: he hasn't given up yet. All that is needed is a new opportunity and a little more good luck.