Recently, the Palmeiras president Leila Pereira said about Neymar, "Great player, but he's going to Santos. I don't know, you have to ask Santos, but not here, he wouldn't come. I want to invest in someone who can come in immediately, who can start tomorrow if the coach decides. Palmeiras is not a medical department. I do not accept that a player signed by Palmeiras is not ready to play immediately. I won't accept us signing a player who's unfit to play."

Though her words might have seemed harsh to the football populace, the fact that the element of truth in those words were high, made the harshness even higher...

And for it to have been uttered against a player of Neymar's caliber, it definitely struck a bone or two. 

But then, how did Neymar get to this stage? 

Full Circle: Return to Santos

Football, like life, is a series of decisions, some propelling players to greatness, others leading them down unforeseen paths. In early 2025, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior made a decision that, for many, felt like an admission of failure: he returned to Santos FC, the club where his career began. What should have been a triumphant homecoming felt more like a stark reality check. 

At 32, a player once tipped to dominate the sport for over a decade was not heading to a Champions League contender or rejoining an elite European club. Instead, he was back where it all started, no longer as the prodigy who left to conquer the world, but as a superstar whose career had followed an unfortunate trajectory. 

His move to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, just months earlier, was supposed to be another chapter in his glittering career, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. A devastating ACL injury limited him to just a handful of games, and suddenly, the man once considered the heir to Messi and Ronaldo was no longer a major force in world football. Rather, in his place, players like Erling Haaland of Manchester City, Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid, Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, Vinicus Jr of Real Madrid, and others, were now the prominent players in football. 

This was not how the story was supposed to go. Neymar's return to Santos, no matter how nostalgic, was far below where he should be at this stage of his career. It was the culmination of a series of choices that, in hindsight, did more harm than good. And it all started with one fateful decision, the moment he decided to walk away from Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain.

A Star is Made: Santos to Barcelona

To understand why Neymar's career trajectory feels like a tragic miscalculation, one must go back to where it all began. Born with an extraordinary talent, Neymar was Brazil’s crown jewel, the next in line to carry the country's footballing legacy. His dazzling dribbles, audacious skills, and an eye for goal made him an instant star at Santos. By the age of 21, he had already won the Copa Libertadores and was hailed as the most exciting player outside of Europe. It was only a matter of time before he made the leap to the big stage.

That opportunity came in 2013 when Neymar signed for Barcelona. It was a dream move; he was joining one of the greatest teams in football history, playing alongside Lionel Messi, and learning from some of the best in the world. In his four years at the club, he won two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and, most notably, the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League. He was part of the legendary 'MSN' trio—Messi, Suárez, and Neymar—one of the most feared attacking forces football has ever seen, in recent times.

But there was a problem. No matter how brilliant Neymar was, he was always the second act to Messi. Even when he played a pivotal role in Barcelona's stunning comeback against PSG in 2017 (the famous Remontada), scoring twice and assisting the decisive goal, the headlines still belonged to Messi. Neymar wanted more. Despite contradicting claims by him, it appeared that he wanted to be the main man, the face of a team built around him.

The Pivotal Move: Barcelona to PSG

And so, in 2017, Neymar shocked the football world by leaving Barcelona for PSG in a record-breaking €222 million move. The decision was monumental, not just for him, but for football itself. This was the most expensive transfer in history, one that shattered the dynamics of the sport. PSG, backed by Qatari money, wanted to build a dynasty, and Neymar was their centerpiece.

On paper, it made sense. He would no longer be in Messi’s shadow, he would be the undisputed leader, and he would be the one to bring PSG their long-coveted Champions League title. But the reality was different. Ligue 1, for all its talents, was never as competitive as La Liga or the Premier League. Neymar dominated domestically, but injuries, controversies, and moments of indiscipline began to overshadow his brilliance.

The Champions League title that PSG signed him for never came. While they reached the final in 2020, it was Kylian Mbappé who emerged as the club’s true superstar. Neymar’s time in Paris was a mix of dazzling individual performances, long injury layoffs, and increasing frustration. The ambition that drove him to leave Barcelona, of becoming the best player in the world, was fast slipping away.

Coupled with the fact that Messi came to join him at PSG after a series of confusing events at Barcelona, it was becoming glaring that his dream was fast fading from sight. 

The Downward Spiral: PSG to Al Hilal

By 2023, Neymar was no longer the defining figure of PSG. Injuries had taken a toll, and with Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos leaving, the club was moving in a different direction. He could have pushed for a return to Barcelona, or even tested himself in the Premier League, but instead, he chose the Saudi Pro League, joining Al Hilal for another record-breaking contract.

The move, for many, was the final confirmation that Neymar's prime had been wasted. He was 31, still capable of playing at the highest level, yet he chose the riches of Saudi Arabia over footballing legacy. What followed was a disaster. An ACL injury sidelined him for months, and his impact in Saudi football was minimal. Less than a year after making the move, Neymar found himself contemplating his next step, and the options were dwindling.

Conclusion

And so, Neymar returns to Santos, not as the world’s best player, not as the leader of a Champions League-winning side, but as a footballer trying to find meaning in a career that has taken unexpected turns. His talent was never in question. At his peak, he was unplayable. But talent alone is never enough in football. Decisions matter too. And Neymar’s biggest decision, to leave Barcelona, was perhaps the one that completely altered his entire career path.

Now, as he steps back onto the pitch for Santos, one can only hope that he rediscovers his love for the game. The road back to the top may be closed, but football has a way of offering second chances. We wish him well, knowing that the weight of stardom makes even the most talented players vulnerable to choices they may one day regret.

At the end of the day, we are all left with thoughts of what could have been...