In the summer of 2017, the football world was stunned — Neymar signed for Paris Saint-Germain after an extraordinary €222 million release clause activation, leaving behind Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and the magic of Camp Nou. But even now, years later, one question still gives rise to heated debates among fans and analysts: should Neymar have stayed at Barcelona?
In this article, DaoKick will walk you through the tangled threads of ambition, legacy, performance, and regret. We’ll explore what Neymar achieved in Barcelona, what he risked by leaving, how his career unfolded afterward, and ultimately whether staying would have served him or Barca better. Join me as we dig into stats, stories, and “what-could-have-beens.”
The rise and peak: Neymar’s legacy at Barcelona
When Neymar arrived at Barça in 2013, he made that prophecy real:
- He scored 105 goals and provided 76 assists in 186 appearances for Barcelona.
- He formed the lethal attacking trident “MSN” with Messi and Suárez.
- In 2014–15, he won the treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League), and was joint top scorer in the Champions League that campaign.
- In 2016–17, he helped Barca lift the Copa del Rey again, scoring in the final and making history.
- His performance in La Remontada — Barcelona’s epic 6-1 win over PSG in the Champions League round of 16 — is forever etched in club lore. He scored two goals and assisted the winner.
Barcelona lost one of their crown jewels when Neymar left, and his numbers and impact make one wonder: could he have built an even greater legacy had he stayed?
Why Neymar left: ambition, pressure, and wages
To answer should Neymar have stayed at Barcelona, we must first understand why he left.
Stepping out of the shadow
One frequent narrative is that Neymar wished to step out from Messi’s shadow and become the undisputed number one star. But in recent interviews, he has denied that being his main motive. He even said that Messi asked him: “Why are you leaving? Do you want to be the best?” and that his answer was: “No, it’s something personal.”
Still, internal pressures at Barça might have pushed him toward a different path. Reports suggest the club’s board had envisioned a future where Neymar might eventually replace Messi as the figurehead — a burden Neymar perhaps wasn’t eager to carry.
Financial enticement & new challenge
PSG’s offer was gargantuan. The transfer smashed records, and Neymar gained a substantial salary uptick in France. The financial incentive and promises of starring status were tempting. Also influencing him were the opportunity to play with Brazilian compatriots at PSG and to build a new project.
Tensions with management & vision
While Neymar had success at Barcelona, there were rumors of tension behind the scenes — disagreements over his role, expectations, and identity within a squad anchored by Messi. The allure of a fresh start in a team built around him was tempting.
Taken together, the mix of ambition, identity, finances, and internal pressures helps explain his decision. But does that justify leaving?
What changed after departure: successes, injuries, and setbacks
Leaving Barcelona came with rewards — and heavy costs.
Successes in titles and status
At PSG, Neymar won numerous Ligue 1 titles, domestic cups, and became one of the most marketable footballers in the world. He was the centerpiece of a club determined to conquer Europe.
Injuries, inconsistency, and underachievement
But it wasn’t smooth sailing. Neymar’s career at PSG (and later in Saudi Arabia) has been punctuated by injuries that kept him sidelined for long stretches. His consistency at the highest level waned. PSG never managed to convert their superteam into multiple Champions League titles, often falling short in knockout rounds.
In 2025, he left Al-Hilal by mutual agreement after limited appearances. Then he returned to Santos, his boyhood club, seeking to reignite his passion.
Declining returns in comparison
At times, Barcelona without Neymar regressed. They failed repeatedly to reclaim the Champions League crown, and many of their big-money replacements (Coutinho, Dembélé) never matched Neymar’s sparkle.
Still, Neymar’s post-Barcelona path reveals that leaving didn’t guarantee ultimate greatness. The lofty expectations clashed with reality.
Hypothetical: how things might’ve evolved had he stayed
Can we imagine a world where Neymar stayed at Barcelona? It’s speculative, but informed by history and trends.
Continued success—with tradeoffs
Barcelona would likely have remained a dominant force in La Liga and continued deep Champions League runs. The MSN trio was at its pinnacle; keeping Neymar might have sustained the club’s European competitiveness longer.
However, Neymar’s style and injury profile might eventually have led to friction over tempo, rotation, and squad balance. His need for centrality might conflict with evolving structures or new signings.
Legacy and individual accolades
If Neymar stayed, he might have scored more goals, won more titles with Barcelona, and solidified his place among the club legends. But would he win the Ballon d’Or? Possibly harder, as Messi’s brilliance would still overshadow him.
Also, staying might have reduced the financial rewards and novelty of being “the star” somewhere else — which, to be fair, appealed to Neymar’s ambition.
Risks avoided and risks introduced
By staying, Neymar avoids the tumult of big transfers and constant re-adaptation. But he might pay the cost of never being the central figure of a project. Also, staying in a system built around Messi could limit his growth or cause stagnation.
All told, staying has as many hypothetical risks as rewards.
Should Neymar have stayed at Barcelona? The verdict
So, should Neymar have stayed at Barcelona? The answer isn’t binary — it lies in weighing what mattered most to him.
If longevity, club legend status, and safe greatness were the goals, staying might have been wiser. In that scenario, he probably would have enjoyed more stability, continuity, and collective success.
But Neymar is not built for comfort. His ambition, desire to blaze his own trail, and willingness to take risks drove him to PSG and beyond. He gambled on becoming the star, not a star. That gamble had highs—stratospheric success—and lows—injuries, inconsistency, unfulfilled European dreams.
In retrospect, he has expressed neither outright regret nor blissful certainty. He has said he has no regrets in his career. Others close to him have claimed he told them he regretted leaving Barcelona. Still, the complexity of his path makes it impossible to say definitively.
Final Thoughts
Should Neymar have stayed at Barcelona? Staying could’ve cemented his status as a Barcelona idol, yielded more trophies in a stable environment, and reduced career turbulence. But leaving gave Neymar the chance to chase individual glory, carve his own identity, and embrace risk—something more aligned with the spirit of his journey.
If you’re a Barça fan mourning lost sparkle, you see a world robbed of extended magic. If you value bold ambition, you respect his choice to roll the dice.
Now’s your turn: do you think he made the right call? Drop your thoughts, share this article, and stick with DaoKick — where we bring you the stories behind every transfer, the statistics behind every legend, and the passion behind every debate.
