Neymar turns 30 between promises and controversies at PSG

The Brazilian Neymar, the most expensive footballer in the history of football, turned 30 this Saturday and his club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), joined the chorus of congratulations by posting a video on social networks with some of his exploits .

The video, almost a minute long, compiles some of the Brazilian’s best moments at PSG, both on the pitch and in training.

The 10 of the PSG and the Brazilian national team is convalescing from an ankle ligament injury and his participation in the round of 16 against the Champions League, against Real Madrid, is considered difficult.

Hired in the summer of 2017 from Barcelona in exchange for the 222 million euros of his termination clause, Neymar, born in Mogi das Cruzes on February 5, 1992, has had moments of light in his four and a half years in Paris and shadows.

He has played 130 games for PSG with stratospheric numbers: 90 goals and 55 assists and has won all the national titles, including three French Leagues and three Cups, together with his colleague Kylian Mbappé.

The Champions League, his great ambition, touched him in 2020, when he lost in the final against Bayern Munich. The only Orejona he raised was in 2015, when he raised it with the Argentine Lionel Messi, today his partner at PSG.

However, repeated injuries at key moments of the season, his desire to return to FC Barcelona in 2019 and some extra-sports affairs, such as an accusation of alleged rape that same year, made him the target of PSG fans.

After some tensions, the skillful player ended up renewing last year until 2025.

With Brazil, Ney has 116 caps and 70 goals (close to Pelé’s scoring record of 77 goals) and winning a World Cup is his big pending account after having played two with performance below expectations. (D)