Paris Saint-Germain paid a world-record €222 million transfer fee in the summer of 2017 to trigger Neymar’s release clause at FC Barcelona, bringing the Brazilian star to Ligue 1. In an interview with Argentine content creator Davo Xeneize, Neymar reflected on his six seasons in the French capital and made a surprising assessment of his career trajectory: he considers his peak performance level to have occurred during his initial period with PSG rather than during his years at Camp Nou. And the mythic number 10 placed PSG right at the top, ahead of FC Barcelona, where he had nevertheless won the Champions League.
Evaluating the Paris Peak Against Barcelona Glory
While global football supporters largely associate Neymar’s achievements with his time in Spain alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in the MSN attacking trio—which secured a treble and the UEFA Champions League title in 2015 under manager Luis Enrique—the forward argued that his physical and tactical maturation peaked in France. The Brazilian attacker recorded 118 goals and 70 assists across 173 appearances in all competitions during his tenure in Paris, claiming five Ligue 1 titles and reaching the Champions League final in 2020 before departing for Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023 for €90 million. Neymar favoured individual performance to the detriment of collective achievements. At Barcelona, his four seasons at the club also cemented his status as one of Europe’s most creative forwards, and perhaps the best after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neymar, now 34 years old and playing for Santos FC after stepping away from the Brazil national team following the World Cup, pointed directly to his early years in Paris as his athletic pinnacle. “For me, my best periods were at Paris Saint-Germain, when I joined the club,” Neymar told Davoo Xeineize. “I know people remember my time in Barcelona when I formed the MSN trio and everything I achieved with the team, but I think the best version of Neymar appeared at Paris Saint-Germain. Over there, I had strength, speed, and intelligence, and I became capable of knowing every detail of the pitch.”
Injuries and the Reality of the French Tenure
Those physical setbacks complicated the latter half of his tenure with the Rouge & Bleu, paving the way for his departure to Al-Hilal in 2023 and his subsequent return to Brazil with Santos FC.
The remarks contrasted Neymar’s prioritization of individual athletic prime against the collective silverware and treble secured during his four seasons in Catalonia. Throughout the interview, the forward emphasized that his mental sharpness, tactical awareness of the pitch, and overall athletic equilibrium reached their zenith during those initial months under the French club’s colors. During that same conversation, Neymar hinted that he wished to dedicate himself fully to something else after his retirement, while also affirming that he did not like watching football matches.
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