🏆 Ballon d'OneFootball: And in 12th place is ... | OneFootball

Welcome to the third annual edition of the Ballon d’OneFootball as we continue our countdown of the top 25 players in the world.

Click right here to see the full list so far.

And today we have …

12th: Neymar, PSG and Brazil

(Last year: 8th)

It’s hard to believe that Neymar is 30. It’s also hard not to escape the feeling that we had all expected him to achieve more by now.

But that doesn’t mean he is not still a breathtakingly good footballer.

That fact seems to get lost in the whirlwind of injuries, social media posts, and the fact he hasn’t won the Champions League with PSG.

Neymar divides opinion like almost nobody else but put all the drama and the debate to one side and just watch him the next time you get the chance. I promise he will entertain you.

The Brazilian remains one of the most skilful, exciting dribblers in the game. Very few are as dangerous when they get into their stride, something he can’t do as often as he’d like because defenders often chop him down as soon as he threatens to stretch his legs.

Even that familiar scene of Neymar brought down yet again is nothing but a testament to the fright he puts into opposition players.

And it isn’t just flicks and tricks and taking players on with Neymar. He has been and remains a fantastic goalscorer and creator as well.

The winger has, per Transfermarkt, a whopping 96 goals and 57 assists in his 136 PSG appearances to date but that still hasn’t been enough to convince some. Nor have his 70 Brazil goals. He netted six in 13 appearances in 2021 to move within seven strikes of Pelé’s all-time national record.

Not bad for a player often accused of failing to live up to his potential.

The arrival of Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain has been tricky for all involved but the expected departure of Kylian Mbappé in the summer would mean one superstar less to squeeze in. Maybe that will reignite Neymar once more, one final time, at club level.

As for his country, their hopes of World Cup glory this year rest on his shoulders. That really would end the argument that he hasn’t achieved enough in his career.

Click right here to see the full list so far.