Prolific Scorer but Often Injured: Neymar’s Six Seasons at PSG in Numbers Brazilian football star Neymar has bid adieu to the Parisian club as he embarks on a new journey with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal, on Tuesday. Joining Paris Saint-Germain as a marquee signing in the summer of 2017, Neymar became the priciest player in football history. He stayed in the French capital for six seasons before departing for Saudi Arabia, sealing a move to Al-Hilal on August 15th, a transfer confirmed jointly by the two clubs. Throughout his time with PSG, the Brazilian displayed brilliance but also faced moments of disappointment, particularly in the latter stages of the Champions League. Let’s delve into the statistics of his Parisian tenure.
123 Matches Missed due to Injuries Certainly not the image he intended to leave in the minds of French football fans, yet Neymar, prone on the ground in agony, will likely remain etched in the memories of Ligue 1 spectators. Over his six seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, injuries plagued the Brazilian, allowing him to participate in more than 30 matches in a single season only once (31 appearances in 2020-2021). Considering PSG’s involvement in multiple competitions, often exceeding fifty matches a season, Neymar’s injury record is evident. The former Barcelona player was sidelined for 123 games due to medical reasons and 19 due to suspensions, while managing to appear in 173 matches. Notably, he endured two metatarsal fractures and an ankle injury, undergoing surgery following a fresh ankle sprain in February against Lille – a match that turned out to be his final official appearance in PSG colors.
118 Goals: Fourth All-Time Leading Scorer for PSG Despite his limited appearances, Neymar climbed to the fourth spot in the list of all-time leading goal scorers for PSG, trailing Kylian Mbappé, Edinson Cavani, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, yet surpassing Pauleta. Since his arrival in 2017, the Brazilian forward netted 118 goals and delivered 77 crucial assists, earning him the second-highest goal tally for PSG during this period, just behind Kylian Mbappé. His contributions facilitated the acquisition of five league titles, four Trophées des Champions, two Coupe de la Ligue trophies, and two Coupe de France triumphs.
2 Goals in Champions League Knockout Stages While Neymar has undoubtedly amassed an impressive collection of trophies with PSG, the most prestigious one, the Champions League, eluded his grasp during his time with the Parisian club. The Champions League trophy remains a coveted prize for the capital’s fans, and Neymar struggled to maintain his form during the knockout stages of European competitions. Although he consistently found the net in group stages, he managed to score just twice in the knockout phase, both goals coming against Dortmund in the round of 16 of the 2020-2021 edition. However, he showcased greater proficiency in terms of assists during the knockout rounds, registering 6 assists.
426 Fouls Endured With his audacious dribbling and at times provocative style, Neymar enchanted spectators while occasionally frustrating opponents. Despite frequently being sidelined by injuries, the Brazilian attacker endured 426 fouls on the Ligue 1 pitches over his six-season tenure. This figure stands 34 fouls higher than his nearest contender, Montpellier’s Téji Savanier, during the same period.
