The larger opinion while watching Neymar Jr. in his prime at Barcelona was that he was destined to break the Ballon d'Or supremacy of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The player then moved to Paris Saint-Germain as the costliest ever signing in football history (€222 million) and was part of a team that revolved around him.
His exit from the Catalan club was expected to escalate his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or in the future, but things haven't quite gone as per the plan. Former Liverpool player Fabio Aurelio believes that despite having a scintillating career, Neymar has not reached the heights that were truly expected of him.
While speaking to GOAL, Aurelio said:
“I always say that I would be very disappointed if I was him. The ambitions he has, and for the quality and talent he has, the fact that he has never won a Ballon d’Or feels wrong. He has all the conditions to do it, but I don’t know what has happened. Maybe some things are more important to him than the game, I don’t know?"
Undoubtedly, the 30-year old is one of the most technically gifted footballers to have ever played the game. The flamboyance and swagger he brings to the entertaining side of football is thoroughly exciting to watch. Yet, the Brazilian only managed to finish on the Ballon d'Or podium once in 2015, ending up third.
Aurelio thinks that Neymar has been too caught up with problems off the pitch which has affected his concentration. The former Brazil international said:
“You see Ronaldo, Messi, they were there at the top level for 10 or 15 years, and you never heard about problems away from the pitch, but Neymar is always involved in things like this. He needs to stay away from those things, because he is capable of amazing things. Maybe now, the age he is, if you don’t look after yourself, it can come back and haunt you."
Neymar has shown a decline in terms of his goal contributions in his successive seasons at PSG since joining in 2017. The 30-year old still boasts a healthy strike rate for the French giants, having scored 97 goals and provided 58 assists in 139 appearances across all competitions.
Karim Benzema a hot favorite in the race for Ballon d'Or this year
Many stars across the top leagues in Europe and in the Champions League have delivered great performances and maintained consistency throughout the season. The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Robert Lewandowski and Mohamed Salah have all proven their credentials to be considered in the running for the Ballon d'Or 2022.
However, Karim Benzema's form has been sensational and it could be argued that his performances have been the most influential this season. His consecutive hat-tricks in the UCL knockouts against PSG and Chelsea turned the tide in Real Madrid's favor. He then scored the all-important goal against the Blues in extra-time to give Los Blancos the advantage in their 5-4 aggregate score in the UCL quarter-finals.
The French striker has scored 38 goals in 38 games this season along with 13 assists. He surely seems like the favorite to win the 2022 Ballon d'Or.
Tuuceloru
0
is because of injury and parties
Mariakanibarracks
0
In ur dreams lewa and Salah way ahead of him
See how others have replied to you on my behalf,go sleep now [Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
neymarabhi10
2
Fabio I don't even know u... If u were in this ERA... You wouldn't even exisist in this ERA... At least neymar have been 3rd in this bottlers of robbing ERA
GGMUSTAR
0
It’s funny cos I’m not his problem
He is getting paid more than most players but see him wasting his life I like him but he is a disappointment
GGMUSTAR
0
Not funny
It’s funny cos I’m not his problem
sutbcdeiln
0
Yes he won that match actually He left to be the worlds best but he never work hard and play like he really need the balon dor Imagine you want the balon dor and you get injured every time your sister is wanna do birthday,😁
Not funny
GGMUSTAR
0
j v Lille le CV de mon gnlm de k m unll ok o km miun ytjt Molinton nood j'j pr
Ohh okay Lille were the champions of France last year right 🤣🤣
GGMUSTAR
0
Neymar didn’t leave Barca for the sake of money he left Barca because he was being overshadowed by messi and Neymar arguably singlehandedly overturn that 4:1 deficit against psg there’s no doubt that Neymar was the best player by far in that match but messi received all the praise afterwards that’s when he realized he had zero chance of winning the ballon’d or so Neymar leaving Barca was actually a right thing but unfortunately he’s been unlucky with injuries the French league is too low and constantly receiving bad tackles refs don’t protect him enough I honestly think he should have moved to the English premier league instead
Yes he won that match actually He left to be the worlds best but he never work hard and play like he really need the balon dor Imagine you want the balon dor and you get injured every time your sister is wanna do birthday,😁
GGMUSTAR
0
Brazilian is all about carnival like parties with lots of women and coke …. Give a Brazilian enough money at an early age and he will never fulfill his potential….. that’s Neymar In a sentence
You are right I notice them Imagine Oscar of your Chelsea too
sutbcdeiln
0
you are very stupid to say that
Why am I stupid?
wemadklnry
0
Don’t talk if you have no knowledge in football Neymar scored more goals than cr7 and also have better goal ratio than cr7 at the age of 30 (cr7 age30 Neymar age30) he’s also 7 goals shy and 10 goals shy to become top Brazilian and South American goal scorer of all time respectively
you are very stupid to say that
sutbcdeiln
0
ney second most hated player after ronaldo
No doubt
sutbcdeiln
0
Neymar is good but not anymore
Why’s that
sutbcdeiln
0
In ur dreams lewa and Salah way ahead of him
Salah and Lewi are no match for Neymar and do understand what generation mean? Just because salah has had 2 or 3 good seasons with Liverpool doesn’t make him a generational player he’s not even among the top 10 🤡
sutbcdeiln
0
Money is important to him
Because is the most important thing in the world 🤷🏽♂️
sutbcdeiln
1
Neymar Jr is a Brazilian and from a poor family so I'm not surprised the love of money fvcked up his chances of winning Ballon D'or. this is a common thing amongst the poor south Americans and Africans no offence
Neymar didn’t leave Barca for the sake of money he left Barca because he was being overshadowed by messi and Neymar arguably singlehandedly overturn that 4:1 deficit against psg there’s no doubt that Neymar was the best player by far in that match but messi received all the praise afterwards that’s when he realized he had zero chance of winning the ballon’d or so Neymar leaving Barca was actually a right thing but unfortunately he’s been unlucky with injuries the French league is too low and constantly receiving bad tackles refs don’t protect him enough I honestly think he should have moved to the English premier league instead
sutbcdeiln
0
Neymar is naturally not a dangerous and sharp attacker he is just a midfielder to help and assist for Mbape and Messi. his best skill is dribling not scoring
Don’t talk if you have no knowledge in football Neymar scored more goals than cr7 and also have better goal ratio than cr7 at the age of 30 (cr7 age30 Neymar age30) he’s also 7 goals shy and 10 goals shy to become top Brazilian and South American goal scorer of all time respectively
Kim-kim-kk
2
Brazilian is all about carnival like parties with lots of women and coke …. Give a Brazilian enough money at an early age and he will never fulfill his potential….. that’s Neymar In a sentence
tesbdimpu
1
Neymar is naturally not a dangerous and sharp attacker he is just a midfielder to help and assist for Mbape and Messi. his best skill is dribling not scoring
ruacdelrz
0
In ur dreams lewa and Salah way ahead of him
I mean they are good but overall neymar is more complete
ChelseaFC_Addict
0
Neymar Jr is a Brazilian and from a poor family so I'm not surprised the love of money fvcked up his chances of winning Ballon D'or. this is a common thing amongst the poor south Americans and Africans no offence
anonymouss
0
Perhaps people should realize that winning that award isn’t really very important. Winning trophies as a team is what the game is about. These losers who fret over a lame award should just forget about football. It’s not about an award.
but as you can see, messi and ronaldo won so many trophy with their team last 10 to 15 years and they also won so so many individual trophy.. which is i think, beside team achivement, individual achivement also important to every top players..
ajasaemma2004
0
We all know that injuries have been the biggest obstacle for Neymars progression,he remains the 3rd best of the generation
In ur dreams lewa and Salah way ahead of him
Widadls
4
j v Lille le CV de mon gnlm de k m unll ok o km miun ytjt Molinton nood j'j pr
Champion88
1
Money is important to him
Mariakanibarracks
1
We all know that injuries have been the biggest obstacle for Neymars progression,he remains the 3rd best of the generation
wukablmty
0
Neymar is good but not anymore
the word is was
liweimnopz
0
and he should just forget it
Jaylinroman14
1
Neymar is good but not anymore
allfootballisshit
4
ney second most hated player after ronaldo
Ficeikmt
1
Already senior
baebclnstu
0
Hater will always when u are better then them
EdisonBaby
1
even if you haven't Ballon d or ,the world will remember you. and your beautiful football.
wiseman45
0
you're more useless and stupid than I thought
you're prostitute mother is a dumb, never you call me dumb again, did I insult you or anyone in my comments ? I just said neymar is the most hated player why call me dumb ?
cemabpruyz
0
even people's whose career are far below neymar's career will talk against him
I’m not a big fan of Neymar but you’re right. He doesn’t deserve that
cemabpruyz
4
Perhaps people should realize that winning that award isn’t really very important. Winning trophies as a team is what the game is about. These losers who fret over a lame award should just forget about football. It’s not about an award.
wiseman45
1
You’re so dumb, he’s saying the truth bro not to mock him or anything
you're more useless and stupid than I thought
Asapmills
0
wow I think neymar is the most hated footballer on the planet everyone is talking against him
You’re so dumb, he’s saying the truth bro not to mock him or anything
wiseman45
4
even people's whose career are far below neymar's career will talk against him
wiseman45
3
wow I think neymar is the most hated footballer on the planet everyone is talking against him
moobdesuz
2
Neymar Jr 💪🏻🇧🇷