If you were told that someone with a 100 million euro annual salary has become the spokesperson for an "injury shelter," would you believe it? That person is Neymar! This genius who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Messi and Ronaldo has now had a short-lived experience in the Saudi league, ending in a hasty contract termination. The former "third man in football" has now become the representative of "injury-prone talents." Is it injuries that have dragged him down, or was it a mistake in his choices that became the turning point in his fate?
Let's rewind to the time when Neymar was full of ambition. His talent was hailed as a gift from God to football. From Brazil's Santos team, where he first made a name for himself, to the European powerhouse Barcelona, he soared forward. There was a time when Santos fans shouted, "Football is Neymar's national art," and Barcelona opened the door to the top stage for him.
During his time at Barcelona, he formed the fearsome "trident" with Messi and Suarez, their chemistry and goals flowing like clouds and water. Especially during the 2015 Champions League season, Neymar helped Barcelona win the treble in Europe.
At that time, Neymar was seen as the only one capable of succeeding Messi and Ronaldo, with a strong wind at his back.
However, heroes fear the thinness of beauty, and geniuses fear the accumulation of injuries. Neymar's career seems to have taken a turn after the spinal injury in the 2014 World Cup. At that time, as Brazil's top star, he was expected to lead the team to victory, but in the match against Colombia, a knee collision directly ended his World Cup journey. Since then, various injuries have come one after another: ankle sprains, ligament tears, muscle strains, and frequent relapses of leg problems. It can be said that his body is like an open machine, never perfectly repaired.
It is not an exaggeration to say that since the beginning of this century, he may be one of the top stars closest to the title of "glass man."
Despite this, Neymar still took a bold step in 2017, choosing to leave the "galactic" Barcelona and join Ligue 1's Paris Saint-Germain. That year's transfer fee of 222 million euros shocked the entire football world—some say he did it for his dreams, while others think he was after the huge contract. Regardless of the reason, his experience in Paris was like a roller coaster ride. Indeed, he led Paris to multiple Ligue 1 titles and even reached the Champions League final, becoming the team's absolute core. However, injuries and controversies always followed him, which was the main reason why he could not stabilize in Paris.
For a while, fans jokingly said, "Neymar's stats are wide, but his attendance rate is not as wide as his wheelchair." Especially the absence in key matches and injuries before the playoffs became a routine operation, making people doubt whether he could really carry a team.
Until the moment he joined the Saudi league, the outside world was once again plunged into controversy. On one side was the temptation of a sky-high salary, and on the other was the public's doubts about the level of the Saudi league: was this choice a turning point in his career, or the beginning of another downward spiral? Unfortunately, a short two years gave the answer: he only played 7 times for the New Moon team before being terminated due to unsatisfactory performance and injury concerns.
This is a classic case of high pay and low achievement. Some jokingly say that this time he not only failed to bring the expected attention to the Saudi league but also made people shake their heads more about his future. So the question arises: did Al-Shabab buy a "superstar," only to end up with a "VIP medical record"? Thinking about it this way, the owner of Al-Shabab might be furious.
Perhaps because of this, Neymar had to face another decision. After his contract was terminated, he received four new contracts, including invitations from Major League Soccer and his old club Santos. Unexpectedly, he is likely to choose to return to Santos. This Brazilian team, which brought him to prominence, is the starting point of his career—or perhaps his ultimate destination.
After wandering for many years, he may have finally chosen to follow his heart instead of squeezing his body for his dreams. Many interpret this choice as putting a period at the end of his career rather than continuing to drain himself, aiming for the highest level of competition.
However, will this return to Santos be his final redemption or another controversial low point? No one can make a definitive conclusion. Fans are eager to see him reignite his youthful fighting spirit with his old skills, but they also worry that the specter of injury will haunt him again. Especially as the 2026 World Cup approaches, can Neymar leave a classic farewell for Brazilian football in his last World Cup battle? These are all unanswered questions.
But to put it bluntly, on the football field, there is always silence after the peak, an irreversible rule. For Neymar, however, what he presents is a huge contrast: from the third man in football to the shadow of injuries, in just a short decade. This is both a regret for wasted talent and a stark footnote on the cruelty of football. No one can stand at the top forever, not even Neymar, who possesses endless talent, can escape the whims of fate.
No one can make choices for Neymar in the future. From his experiences, some see the fragility of genius, while others see that even with immense wealth and top resources, one cannot withstand the precise blows of injury. But no matter what, Neymar is still the genius who once amazed the world; he just needs time to find the last ray of light in his career.