The Brazilian forward moved to PSG from Barcelona in the summer for "new challenges" and he has an early chance to prove his worth in the Champions League.
When Neymar left Barcelona in the summer to join Paris Saint-Germain in a record breaking €222 million move, it was a clear signal of intent. And the transfer will only be a success if Neymar can lead the French side to the Champions League.Neymar inspired the greatest comeback in the competition's history back in March as he helped Messi and all fellow Barca player to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit at PSG's expense in an amazing 6-1 win at Camp Nou.
Now the French side have Neymar on their team, but also another difficult draw in the last 16: Real Madrid. The Ligue 1 leaders were paired with the defending champions in Monday's draw for the second round of the competition and it is a match that could make or break the season for both of these big clubs.With Madrid adrift in La Liga, the Champions League again looks like Madrid's best chance of significant success in the current campaign. After back-to-back victories in Europe's premier club competition, Real Madrid are going for an unprecedented hat-trick of Champions League titles. And despite their low form of late, no side will have wanted to face PSG at this stage.
For PSG and for Neymar, it is a tie they must win to prove themselves. When the Brazilian striker moved to the Parc des Princes in the summer, he spoke of "new challenges". But winning Ligue 1 with an array of flicks and tricks will not be sufficient, he has to deliver the Champions League also for to show true success. Once on trial as a youngster at Real Madrid and also a target for Real before choosing Barca in 2013, The brazilian moved to PSG to be his own man and winning the Ballon d'Or is part of that plan.
Between them, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the individual prize for the past 10 years, with the Portuguese picking up his fifth award on Thursday and then showing off his Ballons d'Or at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
"Being at Real Madrid would make it easier for Neymar to win it," Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said last week. "Madrid is a club that gives big players what they need. Everyone knew that I wanted to sign him."Florentino Perez could yet be back in for Neymar some time over the next couple of years, while the Brazilian's team-mate Kylian Mbappe was also a player interesting Real last summer and he too could be a target for Los Blancos in near future.
PSG's financial might means they will have no need to sell, but Neymar in particular could seek another challenge in Madrid if the Parisian project falls flat in the Champions League.
In that respect, much will depend on the 25-year-old playmaker and on this tie. French club PSG paid €222m for the player they hailed as the world's best. Now Neymar has to show he is up to the hype by beating Ronaldo and Real. Anything else will be considered as a failure.