It's the beginning of the end for Neymar with his legacy at risk - opinion
The downfall goes beyond a bad ankle, which, according to the University of Sao Paulo, is the problem that most keeps players off the pitch. Even in good health, Neymar has not made a difference for the teams he plays for some time now.
Even his genius strikes, like the goal against Croatia in the World Cup in Qatar, are increasingly rare.
He did not become the number 10 that football lovers dreamed, or hoped, he would be.
The Ballon d'Or he dreamed so much of winning was getting further and further away from reality.
As was the World Cup, or the protagonism that he so much sought in European teams.
Not even the so-called 'Neymardependence' of the Selecao materialised - since, at best, it was all just a limitation of the now-sacked coach Tite or, at worst, it was a collective delirium that believed Ney was the saviour of the homeland.
He was the biggest name in Brazil's worst sequence in the history of the World Cups. His numbers are not bad, it is true: in 12 games, he lost only one, scored seven goals and provided three assists. In 2014, because he was (again) injured, he did not participate in the 7-1 disaster. But Ney was the team's leader in the 2018 and 2022 debacles and wrecked every World Cup.
His greatest achievement for the Seleção was the gold medal at the Rio Olympics, which is nothing compared to what his teammates Mbappe and Messi have already won.
At Barcelona, he always shone as a supporting player. At PSG he never came close to justifying being the most expensive signing in football.
The Santos boy, who dazzled and filled us with hope, blossomed only in parts.
And contrary to what happens on the pitch, there is one thing that does not lose strength with time: dislike.
What started out as a mere aversion to the underdog, has since become a repulsion all over the planet. To the point of having a world champion player in France saying he was happy with his latest injury. To the point that a plethora of Brazilians have publicly celebrated his injury in the last World Cup.
Party-extravagant, political militancy in favour of the far-right, appearance at a carnival after a red card, an accusation of tax evasion, alienated posts on Instagram, party in Mangaratiba full of guests amid the pandemic, but the worst thing for the ex-Santista is that, as the PSG coach well knows, Neymar's team is better off without him.
Is the time coming for him to leave for the Middle East? Will he follow the path of his partner Daniel Alves and return to Brazil? Or can Ney still shine in less wealthy teams in Europe?
Either way, Neymar's best is behind him.
According to PSG, the Brazilian will be three to four months recovering from an operation on his ankle. He suffered this latest injury on February 20, the number 10, in the victory over Lille in Ligue 1. The surgery should repair the ligaments to prevent further injury to the region.
