Neymar sounds the alarm

Neymar's view on modern football is uncompromising. In an interview with Ziggo Sport, the former Paris Saint-Germain star highlighted the rarity of creative players, citing Rayan Cherki as one of the last true artists with the ball at his feet.

Read also: After knocking out Real, Bayern are now embroiled in a case with UEFA

"Football has changed now. Today, we see very few special players with the ball, like Vini Jr, Rodrygo, Rayan Cherki—it's just a handful. The game is now more focused on power and intensity. That's why we're losing an entire generation of special players with the ball: the dribblers. When you start working on your strength instead, you lose part of your talent," he revealed.

According to Neymar, this evolution of the game directly threatens individual creativity. Yet, as Ziggo Sport points out, Cherki's rise at Manchester City is proof that a different kind of football is still possible—one built on boldness and pure talent.