Among the injury returns in recent weeks, Joao Neves's has been discreet, but undoubtedly as important as the others. At 21, the player's activity and effectiveness, despite his unassuming physique (1.74 m), are invaluable for a European champion team struggling to regain the form of the previous season.

Troubled by a hamstring injury, Neves had to bide his time from mid-September to the end of October, observing his teammates' fluctuating results: defeat against Marseille (1-0), draws against Lille (1-1) and Strasbourg (3-3)... And his first minutes back, coming on as a substitute, were frustrating against Lorient (1-1) and Bayern Munich (2-1 defeat). But his return to the starting lineup coincided with victories against Nice (1-0), Lyon (3-2), and Le Havre (3-0). Not entirely a coincidence...

Joao Neves complements the other midfielder Fabian Ruiz, who is taller and slower. Shirt tucked into his shorts - a habit retained from an obligation at his youth academy in the south of Portugal - Neves is a tireless worker in retrieving possession, technically gifted, and clever with his passes between the lines... The only sign of his 21 years is that he still relies heavily on the orchestrator Vitinha, positioned slightly deeper.

Fox in the Box

Another essential and spectacular contribution is goals. Of the three midfielders, Joao Neves is now the one who most puts into practice the principles of forward runs advocated by coach Luis Enrique, with six goals this season in just nine matches. He is PSG's top scorer so far.

The Portuguese player particularly impressed with an extraordinary hat-trick at the end of August against Toulouse (6-3): two acrobatic overhead kicks and a long-range shot into the top corner. He wasn't content with that and also scored to give his team hope against Bayern, secured victory against Lyon in the dying moments of the match, and put Le Havre away.

Overhead kicks, long-range shots, headed goals, and a fox-in-the-box finish: Joao Neves has displayed a repertoire worthy of a number 9. He recounted working on goal-scoring moves since his early childhood on the pitches of Tavira (southern Portugal), and often still does in training at Campus PSG. "I try to be intelligent" in my movements, he also explained.

Last season was also remarkable statistically, with seven goals and 10 assists. It is perhaps in the area of "assists" that Neves can do better this season, as he simply hasn't managed any yet.

Against Le Havre, however, some of his inspirations led to clear-cut chances, squandered by his teammates. Joao Neves demonstrates astonishing determination, as when he said without flinching, before the Champions League round of 16 match against Liverpool last season, that PSG was a better team... before proving it on the pitch (0-1, 1-0, qualification on penalties).

"He's one of the best players in the team right now. It doesn't matter who scores, we just want to win," said PSG attacker Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Tuesday. In terms of relationships, speaking the four languages used in the dressing room (Portuguese, French, Spanish, English) quickly made "Jewel" Neves essential to his teammates.

Off the pitch, he is bold, venturing into the sensitive area of civic engagement. In a video produced by the Portuguese authorities in mid-November, Joao Neves encouraged his compatriots to register on the electoral rolls for the presidential election in January.

Joao Neves et le PSG face au Bayern Munich

João Neves

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