Neymar believes the strongest version of his career came at Paris Saint-Germain and was not during his celebrated Barcelona years alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
The Brazil forward made the claim in an interview with Argentine content creator Davoo Xeneize. His comments revisit one of the most debated questions around his career: whether his peak came at Barcelona, where he formed the MSN attack, or in Paris, where he became the central figure of a record-breaking project.
Neymar joined PSG from Barcelona in August 2017 after Barcelona confirmed receipt of a €222m payment covering his release clause. He spent six seasons in the French capital, scoring 118 goals in 173 appearances, before leaving for Al-Hilal in 2023.
Why Neymar ranks PSG above Barcelona
Neymar has identified his time at Paris Saint-Germain as the peak of his individual career, despite Barcelona remaining the period most fans associate with him.
Speaking in an interview with Davoo Xeneize, he said, “For me, the prime was at Paris Saint-Germain, when I played there.”
The Brazilian acknowledged Barcelona’s place in his career, particularly his partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in the famous MSN attack. However, he believes he was at his best individually during his time in Paris.
“People remember Barcelona because of the MSN, but as a player I think PSG was my prime because I had strength, speed and intelligence there, I already knew the whole pitch, and for me that was my best version,” Neymar said.
Neymar scored 105 goals for Barcelona and helped the club win the treble in 2015.
The Barcelona years Neymar still remembers
Neymar’s time at Barcelona remains a defining part of his career. He joined the club in 2013 and formed the famous MSN attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez, helping Barcelona win the treble in 2015.
Those years brought some of the biggest successes of his career and cemented his place among the game’s leading attackers.
In August 2017, Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in a record-breaking transfer. Barcelona confirmed that his representatives had paid his €222 million release clause, and PSG announced a five-year contract for the Brazilian.
The transfer made him the most expensive player in football history at the time.
What Neymar achieved at Paris Saint-Germain
Neymar scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for PSG over six seasons. He won domestic honours with the club, but injuries and repeated disappointment in the Champions League also marked his time in Paris.
He left PSG for Al-Hilal in 2023 before returning to Santos, where his contract runs until 31 December 2026. In July, Neymar said he had ended his Brazil career following the national team's last-16 defeat to Norway at the World Cup.
