Barcelona legend Gerard Piqué recently talked about his former teammate Neymar’s departure from Barça to join PSG, stating bluntly that the decision may have cost Neymar the Ballon d’Or – with his talent, he would’ve lifted at least one Ballon d’Or trophy if he’d stayed alongside Lionel Messi.
Piqué revealed that the core reason for Neymar’s departure back then was his "desire to win the Ballon d’Or": "His father and PSG convinced him together. They thought Neymar’s light would be overshadowed by Messi at Barça. We did everything we could to persuade him to stay. After I posted a photo with him, everyone thought he’d remain, including me. But in the end, he was won over by PSG and left."
Talking about the impact of the transfer on Neymar’s career, Piqué expressed deep regret: "With his ability and performances, he deserved the Ballon d’Or – even if I don’t know which specific year, he should’ve had at least one. Joining PSG hurt him too much. If he’d stayed at Barça, playing alongside Messi and Suárez, he definitely would’ve won the Ballon d’Or, or at least had a chance. You have to remember: when you play with Messi, all eyes are on you, which actually makes it easier to stand out."
In Piqué’s view, Neymar is a "one-of-a-kind" player: "His one-on-one finishing is top-tier, and he always knows how to tip the balance of the game… His smile and the joy he brings to playing remind me of Ronaldinho. His style of play is so entertaining, and he already showed incredible potential back in his Santos days. I still remember the Club World Cup final where we beat Santos, and how he was when he first arrived at Barça. Even back then, we knew this kid was something special."
