He touched his dream, and the opportunity to assert himself at the level of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, but Neymar was not decisive in the final of the Champions League, lost Sunday by Paris SG against Bayern (1-0) in Lisbon.
In the absence of “La Pulga” from Barcelona and CR7 in the last square, the spotlight was on him. In Portugal, his outings were awaited by dozens of fans, on the lookout in front of the club’s hotel.
At 28, “Ney” had the opportunity to show the world that he had risen to the top, he whom the list of thirty nominated for the Ballon d’Or forgot in 2019, due to repeated injuries that began to question its impact at PSG.
But despite a full summer, good physical condition and his permanent smile, the Brazilian stumbled a few inches from the Grail he covets with the club who did not hesitate to recruit him for 222 million euros in 2017 in this goal.
He arrived at the Estadio da Luz in music, thanks to his portable speaker. He finished in tears, first consoled by David Alaba then, prostrate, on the sidelines.
Neymar was not disappointing, but his influence curve followed that of his team, which slowly died out against the Munichers in control during the second half. He did not bring the light that his teammates expected.
He was even nervous at the end of the match, collecting a yellow card (80th) which spoke volumes about the frustration of the Parisians who firmly believed in their dream, on the air of “this year is the good one”.
The former Barça, crowned in 2015, tried everything for everything in added time, but his center was not taken over by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (90th + 1).
Until then, “Ney” has been one of the exploits of the Parisian season, as in the eighth against Dortmund, with a goal in the first leg as well as in the return, which allowed the club to reach quarters which were refused to him since 2016.
– No goal in Lisbon –
In the “Final 8” he was influential even though he didn’t score, missing several clear chances. Munich brought out this aspect of their game.
He had a golden opportunity against Manuel Neuer (18th), but the German international, like a hockey goalie, managed a high class double save.
Neymar also made breakthroughs (24th, 42nd), which led to nothing.
The record seems meager for a player of his caliber, but it symbolizes the match of his team who did not find the keys against the Munich block, more experienced and better in place.
The transition to the 2020-2021 Ligue 1 Championship promises to be difficult, with a trip scheduled for Saturday in Lens. But from his stay in Portugal, Neymar has reason to hope to touch the top again.
PSG saw the affirmation of its Mbappé-Neymar axis, which has become as emblematic as the Champs-Elysées in the capital.
“It’s a good + mix + between + Ney +, a dribbler, a one-on-one player who can give assists like no one else, and Kylian who is fast, who has the timing and the hunger to score every day. . This is our strong point, of course! “Admitted coach Thomas Tuchel.
He missed the finish for the duo, Mbappé having also missed opportunities (45th). But the dream of lifting the big-eared cup together remains.
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