Neymar’s troubled injury history during his time at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) may have had its roots in his arrival in 2017, as reports suggest he came to the club with an ankle stress fracture.
The Brazilian, who transferred from Barcelona for a record €222 million (£193 million/$242 million) six years ago, has faced criticism for his relatively underwhelming stint in the French capital, particularly for the team’s inability to secure European success.
L’Equipe’s recent report reveals that Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain with a pre-existing ankle stress fracture, specifically to the fifth metatarsal of his right foot.
Subsequently, he suffered the same fracture twice during his PSG tenure—in February 2018 and January 2019—followed by ankle surgery last March after issues during the 2022 World Cup.
During his six seasons with PSG, Neymar played 173 matches, contributing 118 goals and 77 assists across all competitions.
However, he missed over 100 games due to injuries and experienced a strained relationship with supporters towards the end of his time in Paris.
Despite moving to Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the summer, Neymar is currently sidelined with a different injury.
After just five matches, he ruptured his ACL while on international duty with Brazil, requiring surgery and an extended absence from the pitch.