Neymar has spent a career twisting defenders into knots, but speaking this week, the Brazilian in a Ziggo Sport interview laid out why that art now fades, arguing modern football’s obsession with speed and power has squeezed out dribblers across the game.
“Football has changed. The game now relies much more on strength and speed,” he said, cutting straight to the issue. He sees a structural shift, not just a stylistic one.
“And because of that, we are losing an entire generation of magical players who were essentially dribblers.” That sounds dramatic, but watch most elite matches now and you see patterns, not improvisation. Systems dominate, and risk shrinks.
Neymar pointed to how few players still dare to take on defenders. “Nowadays we see very few players who play in that style: Vinicius, Rodrygo and Cherki; beyond them I can’t really name anyone else.” That is a short list for a global game.
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo still attack defenders head-on, while Rayan Cherki thrives on unpredictability. They represent exceptions, not the rule.
Neymar then drilled into the root cause. “When you focus more on physical strength rather than your footwork, you lose part of your talent.” That line lands hard. Coaches now prioritise pressing intensity, recovery runs, and tactical discipline over flair.
“Football has become too physical.” He does not romanticise the past blindly, but he clearly misses the freedom that once defined the game’s most creative players.
Brazil built its identity on that freedom. Ronaldinho treated dribbling like second nature, turning matches into theatre. Neymar followed that lineage, but he now watches a game that rewards efficiency over expression.
The numbers still back his legacy. Neymar produced 335 successful dribbles in 2017 across spells with FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, a benchmark nobody has touched since.
Yet hope flickers. Lamine Yamal has already racked up 307 successful dribbles in 2025 at just 18, offering a glimpse of what might return if the game allows it.
