What’s happened to Neymar? PSG No. 10 is in worst form since joining Ligue 1 giants
Bernd Becker 
Neymar’s 11-month spell at PSG has been an eventful one, with the Brazilian star trying on different positions and playing for both club and country. However, there are some signs that his move to the French capital might have gone down in flames…
Neymar, the Brazilian superstar who joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, has been in poor form since joining the club. The PSG No. 10 is in worst form since joining Ligue 1 giants.
PSG’s Neymar has been underwhelming this season, falling well short of expectations for the Brazilian superstar. Getty Images/Sylvain Lefevre
Disappointing. Transparent. Ghostly. Average. You can certainly come up with a few more ways to characterize Neymar’s season so far — in fact, these are actually complimentary remarks about the Brazilian international’s performances for PSG, as other supporters are lot harsher in their criticism of their No. 10.
Neymar used to be a machine, particularly in Ligue 1, averaging nearly a goal per game (56 in 70 games in his first four seasons in France) and assisting on more than one goal per game (87 goals and assists over that same period). However, his statistics after a quarter of the 2021-22 season tell a totally different narrative. In six league games and 495 minutes of action, he has one goal, two assists, and just three significant opportunities. The Brazilian superstar used to be so much more; when he came from Barcelona in the summer of 2017, he took Ligue 1 by storm, a genius with an adversarial approach and attitude. He missed more than half of PSG’s games each season (20 in 2017-2018, then 17, 15, and 18 in 2018), but made up for it with some incredible performances.
So, what’s going on? What happened to Neymar, and why is this year’s version a weak copy of his brilliance at PSG over the last four seasons?
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First and foremost, during the course of his first four seasons at the Parc des Princes, his stats have consistently declined, which is never a good omen. From 19 goals in his debut season to 15, 13, and ultimately nine goals last season, he has come a long way. The same can be said for his assists (13, 7, 6, 5) and pretty much every other significant statistic. During the 2017-18 season, he averaged 4.5 shots per game, with 60% of them being on target. This season, he’s down to 1.8 with 27% on target, and he’s gone from over 12 dribbles per game with a 60% success rate to 6.8 with just 49% success rate.
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It’s possible that everything we’ve seen so far this season was foreseen. It seems like Neymar is fading into the background, or that something is missing. In everything he performs on the field, he lacks the same intensity and efficiency. Basically, he takes much too many touches for far too little final result. And, with Lionel Messi’s arrival and the rising significance of Kylian Mbappe in the squad, Neymar is no longer the major option on the ball. Regardless matter where he was on the field, the rest of the squad would nearly always throw the ball to him. That isn’t the case now.
He’s battled physically, and we’re not just talking about returning for preseason in July with a few more pounds to go. He can’t sustain the same level of energy he used to, with or without the ball. He is no longer as explosive as he was when he initially took his first steps, particularly in one-on-one circumstances, where he was once one of the greatest in the world. He is heavy and moves more slowly.
It’s also not about his age; he’ll be 30 in February and should be in his prime. The issue goes beyond age, fitness, or teammates.
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Julien Laurens discusses why Lionel Messi has failed to score in Ligue 1 and the position he would like to see him play.
Perhaps he’s becoming a little jaded. In a way, he’s won practically everything there is to win during the course of a profitable and remarkable 15-year professional career. The fall, on the other hand, is a sight to see.
In his six Ligue 1 games thus far, Neymar has failed to produce a match-winning performance for PSG; his average player rating in French daily L’Equipe is 4.3 out of 10. He received a 2 for his poor performance in the 2-0 defeat to Rennes right before the international break in October, and a 3 for his recent 0-0 tie with Marseille. He was improved in the 2-1 victory against Lyon in September, but it’s still not good enough. In the Champions League, Neymar made appearances against Club Brugge and Manchester City but did not score, assist, or create any opportunities.
PSG anticipated more from him this season after awarding him a massive new four-year deal towards the conclusion of last season, but sources close to the club tell ESPN that the club is unconcerned. They are certain that Neymar will return to his best form. Neymar, for one, is confident in his ability to reclaim his best form.
So, what does Mauricio Pochettino have to say about it? Neymar and the manager have a good connection, and the boss is pleased with him. He informs him individually and publicly that he is pleased with Neymar’s performances. Despite yet another nondescript performance, he applauded him after the Marseille draw.
However, there is one thing Neymar does better today than he did before: defending. Whether you like it or not, the Brazilian has put in a lot of effort this season to help his colleagues in the back. Has this been to his disadvantage in terms of his offensive contributions? We won’t know for sure till the long run.
If PSG hopes to win the Champions League, Neymar must be at his best. Last Friday, he did set up Angel Di Maria for the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over champions Lille, which bodes well for their Champions League match against RB Leipzig in midweek. Finally, people in and around PSG are hopeful that they will see the real Neymar returning sooner rather than later.
The “psg messi” is a football player who plays for the Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain. He has been in the worst form since joining the club, but he is still one of their best players.
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