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Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has shared some strong criticism for a player who failed to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Emmanuel Petit has slammed Brazil superstar Neymar, lamenting his failure to step into the shoes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the global face of football.
The former Arsenal midfielder didn’t hold back, accusing the Brazilian star of squandering a golden opportunity to dominate the sport due to a lack of focus.
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“I’m a big fan of Neymar’s qualities, he was once such a tremendous player. But he hasn’t reached the level that he should’ve,” Petit said.
“He should’ve been winning the Ballon d’Or and competing with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and taking over after them. You can blame his injuries and his lifestyle, but he didn’t fulfil his potential.” Petit pointed to off-field distractions as the root of Neymar’s decline, contrasting him with Brazil’s Rivaldo.
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“He had so much quality but issues off the pitch so I cannot compare him to Rivaldo. Rivaldo won the Ballon d’Or, he won the World Cup, he was an unbelievable player and reached the pinnacle because he only focused on his career.”
Neymar burst onto the scene with a blockbuster transfer from Santos to Barcelona in 2013, dazzling with 105 goals in 186 matches and clinching eight trophies, including a Champions League title and two LaLiga crowns.
In 2017, a record-shattering move to Paris Saint-Germain followed, where he played a key role in their 2020 Champions League final run.
In the end, persistent injuries derailed his Ballon d’Or aspirations, leading to a stint with Saudi club Al-Hilal in 2023 and a free transfer to Santos.
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