Neymar Jr. and Al-Hilal have mutually parted ways, as the Saudi Arabian side announced yesterday issuing a statement that "Al-Hilal Club Company and Neymar Jr. have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship by mutual consent." 

Full club statement 🔹 pic.twitter.com/oxOrPUereF

— AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) January 27, 2025

Neymar has also posted an emotional message to the Al-Hilal fans and the club on his socials, thanking them for the memories in Saudi Arabia. 

To everyone at Al Hilal, to the fans, Thank you !!
I gave everything to play and I wish we enjoyed better times on the pitch together ..
To Saudi, thank you for giving me and my family a new home and new experiences
I now know the real Saudi and have friends for life
I always… pic.twitter.com/NgeoUjZk1D

— Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) January 28, 2025

The 32-year-old Brazilian is reportedly set for a sensational homecoming to Santos FC, where he spent his boyhood and became a household name during his early days before entering a rollercoaster ride in European football. 

Neymar is often regarded as one of the greatest players who could not live up to their potential. He is also widely debated as the greatest footballer who never won a Ballon d'Or. Now, Neymar's reported homecoming to the roots is making fans teary and also leaving them in despair, is he the football's greatest "Could Have Been"? 

Read Also | Neymar back to Santos? Looks like a homecoming!

The ascendence to glory and gloom: Neymar's journey from Santos to European football

The little boy who started to nurture his footballing skills in the streets of São Paulo caught the attention of the scouts from the renowned Brazilian football club Santos FC. It was in 2003 when Neymar Da Silva Santos Jr., aged only 11, entered the Santos Academy's premises as the new inductee to the youth team.

Cut to the year 2009. After showcasing his immense technical ability, and pure Brazilian-style of footballing skills across the youth ranks of Santos, Neymar earned his debut for the Santos senior team at the age of only 17.

Over the next four years, Neymar Jr. bagged an impressive tally of 136 goals and 64 assists in 225 appearances across all competitions. The young Brazilian played an integral part in Santos' victorious 2010-11 Copa Libertadores campaign and in winning the 2010 Brazilian Cup as well. 

Neymar pelo Santos de 2010 a 2012:

154 jogos
109 gols
45 assistências pic.twitter.com/jxSHDvqxsR

— Sala12 (@OficialSala12) October 25, 2021

Neymar Jr. stormed into the headlines of football discussions worldwide, regarding him as the heir of the likes of Kaka and Ronaldinho in the Brazil national team. He was also named the 2012 South American Footballer of the Year, solidifying his stature as the most promising talent at that time.

However, it was in 2011 when the top European clubs started monitoring him closely. Spanish giants Real Madrid and English side Chelsea had a strong interest in signing Neymar in the upcoming days. But it was FC Barcelona who secured the signing of Neymar in 2013, paying a mammoth transfer package of €88 million to Santos. 

Neymar's move to Barca was no less controversial, as revealed by football writers Alex Duff and Tariq Panja. In their book "Football’s Secret Trade", they revealed the thrilling backstory of Neymar's signing for Barcelona. 

Although Real Madrid seemed to be Neymar's most likely destination to commence his European career, the Brazilian himself signed a pre-contract agreement with Barcelona to join them in the upcoming transfer window. Even his club Santos was kept in darkness about the agreement.

🇧🇷⭐️ 11 YEARS AGO TODAY: Neymar Jr was presented officially as a Barcelona player infront of 50,000+ people.

186 apps for the Spanish club, 105 goals + 76 assists. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/DYY4EaeanS

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) June 3, 2024

However, as the curtain was finally up, Neymar was officially presented to the fans in a jam-packed Camp Nou on June 3rd, 2013. The Brazilian was paired up with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, forming one of the greatest trios in football history, the 'MSN'.

Read Also | MSN vs BBC: Rivalry of the greatest trios in football history

Neymar played a huge part in Barcelona's UEFA Champions League winning campaign in 2014-15, scoring the highest season tally of 10 goals along with scoring the insurance goal in the final. That season, Neymar played a prominent part in Barcelona's treble-winning run as well, quoting himself as one of the best footballers at that moment.

The MSN trio also ended the season with a staggering 122 goals, the most in a season for an attacking trio in Spanish football history. Neymar registered 39 goals across all competitions.

However, the four years he played for Barcelona brought him plenty of personal honours and team accolades, but Neymar did not come close to winning the Ballon d'Or. After finishing in seventh place in 2014 and third place in 2015, Neymar did not have much to contest in the winner's debate.

La Remontada and the pathway to exit

Barcelona's historic 6-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the UCL 2016-17 pre-quarterfinal second leg, which was termed as 'La Remontada', fuelled the fire of Neymar leaving Barcelona. After losing the first leg by 0-4 against the French opponent, Neymar made a comment that ignited the hope of the Barca fans.

Neymar wrote, "As long as there’s a 1% chance, we’ll have 99% faith" on his socials following the 0-4 crushing in Paris. The Brazilian went on to keep his word, orchestrating the Barcelona attacks for the whole game while also scoring two goals and providing one assist to the sixth goal that won Barcelona the game.

🚨🚨 ¡OJO! NEYMAR, sobre la REMONTADA del BARÇA al PSG en 2017: "Lo RECORDARÉ el RESTO de MI VIDA". pic.twitter.com/HV0oO5ejG6

— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) August 9, 2019

However, even after Neymar rescued the team from a distressing situation, it was an iconic image of Lionel Messi leaping with the fans that made the headlines as well became the image of the game. Since this time, Neymar reportedly felt the urge to get out of the stature of Lionel Messi.

Neymar's decision to leave Barcelona and join Paris Saint-Germain was not only driven by his desire to emerge from Messi's shadow but also to embrace the opportunity to shine as the sole star player, bolstering his path to winning the Ballon d'Or.

PSG completed a huge €222 million transfer to rope in Neymar, marking this as the most expensive transfer of all time to date. Although the relationship between him and Barcelona fans was damaged after his unexpected transfer to PSG, Neymar took the center-stage at the French club, leading the side from the front.

Read Also | 5 Craziest football transfer of all-time

Departure from PSG

However, what was naturally expected to be a cakewalk; turned into a rocky road for Neymar. Frequent injuries and several legal scrutinies made his stint at the Parisian club full of ups and downs. He accumulated 77 goals and 49 assists in 173 matches for PSG, but only came close to winning the Champions League in 2020, but lost to Bayern Munich in the final.

Sadly, after leaving Barcelona, Neymar never made it to the Ballon d'Or top ten, let alone winning it. His brawls with his PSG teammates from time to time made his stay at PSG tumultuous, and he ultimately failed to justify the price tag. Across his six-year stint at PSG, Neymar missed 119 games in total due to injuries.

Although he rejoined Lionel Messi at PSG in 2021 and formed the trident of MNM along with another superstar, Kylian Mbappe, the trio also failed to live up to the expectations.

The relationship between Neymar, PSG, and PSG fans completely broke down after he suffered another injury in March 2023 as the supporters demanded the departure of Neymar in various on-street protests. 

❗️Understand that #Neymar is on the sale‘s list of #PSG this summer. It’s a question of the price now as @PSG_inside is prepared for his departure.

➡️ Ramos deal done soon ✔️
➡️ Kolo Muani & Dembele, PSG ist pushing for both players!

L‘Équipe reported this evening that Neymar… pic.twitter.com/1IRxHWupN2

— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 7, 2023

Exit from European football

PSG management finally ran out of patience and decided to sell Neymar in August 2023, informing him that he was not in the overhaul plan for them.

Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal paid a lucrative two-year contract to the Brazilian as he signed for them on a transfer fee of €90 million, making him the most expensive purchase in the Saudi Pro League.

Just two months after signing, he suffered a devastating ACL injury while representing Brazil in a World Cup qualifier. After several months of recovery, he returned to action in late 2024 but was quickly sidelined again due to a hamstring injury.

Overall, he made only seven appearances for the Saudi club, scoring just once in an AFC Champions League match against Nassaji Mazandaran. These injuries, combined with fitness concerns, led to mutual frustration as Al-Hilal have officially announced the termination of the contract after almost two years after the star signing. 

Neymar has reportedly agreed to a significant salary reduction to join Santos, forfeiting approximately €62 million in remaining wages. 

🚨💣 Neymar Jr back to Santos, story confirmed and HERE WE GO! ⚪️⚫️🇧🇷

Al Hilal have terminated Ney’s contract with immediate effect as the Brazilian will now travel for medical and sign in as new Santos player.

Back to Santos, back to Vila Belmiro.

Ney volta pra casa. 🔙🏡 pic.twitter.com/gmPu9uVdNa

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 27, 2025

What could have been a storied career, drifted into a career studded with unexpected ups and downs, frequent injury concerns, and devastating failures. The question still lingers for football fans, what if Neymar had not left Barcelona or taken his decisions otherwise?

Neymar Jr, the 32-year-old man, is returning to his roots with the tag that will surely pain him for a lifetime that he is the greatest footballer who failed to fully capitalize on his immense potential. He still has a significant time left for his upcoming club and the Brazil national team to turn the tables, but the years have termed him as football's greatest "Could Have Been."

The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 Second Leg has ended, concluding the round with eight teams that have earned their qualification into the Champions League Quarter Finals this season.

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Quarterfinals schedule: Everything you need to know

Paris Saint-Germain stunned Liverpool in the second leg, managing a 1-0 win in the regulation time before knocking the league phase leaders out of the competition following a 4-1 win on penalties.

Barcelona dominated over Benfica, earning a 3-1 victory at home to secure the quarter-final place with a 4-1 aggregate. Bayern Munich also clinched a 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen, advancing to the quarters with a 5-0 cushion across two legs.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid fought till the last minute as Atletico managed a 1-0 win to equalize the tie, but Los Blancos secured a 4-2 victory on penalties to advance to the quarters.

Read Also | UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 First Leg Round Up

UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 Second Leg Round Up

FC Barcelona 3-1 Benfica (4-1 Agg)

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal led from the front to help FC Barcelona win 3-1 against Benfica in the return leg, accumulating a 4-1 aggregate to progress through to the quarter-finals.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 11th minute, as Otamendi equalized just two minutes later. However, a world-class strike from Lamine Yamal and Raphinha's second goal produced a dominant win for Blaugranas, despite a goalless second half.

Barcelona will take on Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.

Read Also | Barcelona vs Benfica UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg Highlights: Barcelona through to quarter-finals with an easy 4-1 win on aggregate

Inter Milan 2-1 Feyenoord (4-1 Agg)

Inter Milan stamped a well-deserved 2-1 victory over Feyenoord at the San Siro, winning the tie on a 4-1 aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.

Marcus Thuram netted an early goal in the eighth minute, that was canceled out by Jakub Moder, who equalized from the spot in the 42nd minute. However, Hakan Çalhanoğlu fired the winner with a boastful penalty in the 51st minute.

Inter Milan will go against Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool 0-1 Paris Saint-Germain (1-1 Agg, 1-4 pens)

Arguably, this tie has produced the most gripping and absorbing footballing actions across two legs in the RO16 this season. After a fighting 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Parc de Princes, Liverpool crashed out of the UCL 2024-25 following a 1-4 defeat on penalties.

Ousmane Dembele drew the first blood early in the 12th minute, but almost 110 minutes of football afterwards failed to decide a winner, ending the tie on a 1-1 aggregate.

However, Gianluigi Donnarumma became a wall between PSG's sticks in the penalties, saving two penalties of Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones to hand PSG the advantage in a nail-biting shootout. Desire Doue netted the winning penalty for PSG, taking them to the quarters. 

Les Parisiens will meet Aston Villa in the quarter-finals.

Read Also | Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg | PSG advances, Liverpool crash out after losing on penalties | FT LIV 0-1 PSG (1-1 AGG, 1-4 pens)

Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 Bayern Munich (0-5 Agg)

Bayern Munich had another composed victory over Bayer Leverkusen, beating them 2-0 to progress through the next stage with a commendable 5-0 aggregate.

Harry Kane and Alphonso Davies scored in the 52nd and the 71st minute respectively, leading the German side to the UCL 2024-25 quarter-finals.

Read Also | Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 2nd Leg: Bayern secures their spot in the quarter-finals | LEV 0-2 BAY (Agg. BAY 5-0 LEV)

Lille OSC 1-2 Borussia Dortmund (2-3 Agg)

Borussia Dortmund pulled off a sensational comeback against Lille OSC in the second leg, winning 2-1 against the French side to qualify for the quarters with a 3-2 aggregate.

Jonathan David opened the account for Lille only 5 minutes into the game, as the first half ended with Lille leading 2-1 in the tie. However, Emre Can converted the spotkick in the 54th minute to equalize the game, as Maxilmilian Beier netted a sublime curler in the 65th minute to hand Dortmund a comeback victory.

Dortmund will lock horns against FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals.

Read Also | Lille OSC vs Borussia Dortmund Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg | Dortmund wins a thrilling contest with a second-half comeback; advances to the quarters | FT LIL 1-2 BVB (AGG 2-3)

Aston Villa 3-0 Club Brugge (6-1 Agg)

Aston Villa earned a comfortable 3-0 victory over ten-men Club Brugge in the second leg to enter the quarters with a 6-1 score on aggregate.

After a goalless first half, Marco Asensio scored a brace in the 50th and 61st minute respectively, accompanied by Ian Maatsen who found the back of the net in the 57th minute. 

Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.

Read Also | Aston Villa vs Club Brugge UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg Highlights: Villa to face PSG in quarters after a 3-0 win (6-1 agg)

Arsenal 2-2 PSV Eindhoven (9-3 Agg)

After producing a 7-1 crushing in the first leg, Arsenal shared the spoils in a 2-2 stalemate with PSV in the return leg. Despite the draw, Arsenal are through to the quarters with a massive 9-3 win on aggregate.

Oleksandr Zinchenko scored early in the sixth minute of the game. However, Ivan Perisic equalized in the 18th minute for the visiting side. Declan Rice netted a banger in the 37th minute, but PSV pulled off another equalizing goal in the 70th minute as Couhaib Driouech scored in his first UCL start.

The game ended in a 2-2 draw, as Arsenal progressed onto the quarters, where they will go against the defending champions Real Madrid.

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Real Madrid (2-2 Agg, 2-4 pens)

The Madrid Derby in the return leg gifted another spectacular game of football. Atletico madrid levelled the tie with a 1-0 win after 120 minutes, but Real Madrid emerged victorious on penalties, winning 4-2 to march onto the quarters.

Atletico midfielder Connor Gallagher scored only 30 seconds after the kickoff, but both teams failed to find the net in the remaining minutes, leading the tie to a 2-2 aggregate.

However, Julian Alvarez's spotkick in the shootout was canceled for an apparent double touch. Atletico fell behind, but Real Madrid's fourth penalty, taken by Lucas Vanquez, was denied by Jan Oblak.

Following that, Marcos Llorente had a chance to pull Atletico back in the game, but he hit the woodwork under pressure. Antonio Rugider netted the winning penalty for Real Madrid. Los Blancos will face Arsneal in the quarters.

Read Also | Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid CF Highlights UEFA Champions League RO16 Second Leg: Real Madrid secures their spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Atletico on the penalties | ATM 1(2)-(4)0 RMA (AGG. RMA 2-2 ATM)

The UEFA Champions League has reached its most thrilling stage, with the Quarterfinals now set. After an intense Round of 16, only eight teams remain in the race for UEFA Champions League glory. This season has delivered iconic moments, major surprises, and standout individual performances. The quarterfinal draw brings together tournament favorites and unexpected challengers, promising an exciting battle for the prestigious trophy.

Quarterfinals Matchups:

Who is going all the way? 👀#UCL pic.twitter.com/c9DzzIcetI

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 12, 2025

• Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan
• Aston Villa vs Paris Saint Germain (PSG)
• Arsenal vs Real Madrid CF
• FC Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan:

🇩🇪 𝟎𝟖.𝟎𝟒.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
🇮🇹 𝟏𝟔.𝟎𝟒.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

The dates for our @ChampionsLeague fixtures against Inter have been set! 🗓️🏆#FCBayern #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/du0bMe68IA

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) March 13, 2025

• Bayern triumphed with an aggregate 5-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and remains a top contender.
• Inter Milan secured their spot in the quarterfinals by defeating Feyenoord with a 4-1 aggregate.

Highlights:

Bayern vs Leverkusen:

First Leg: FC Bayern Munich vs Bayer Leverkusen Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Kane Brace Leads Bayern to Dominant 3-0 Win Over Ten-Men Leverkusen | FT' Bayern Munich 3-0 Leverkusen

Second Leg: Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 2nd Leg: Bayern secures their spot in the Quarter-finals with a 5-0 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen | LEV 0-2 BAY (Agg. BAY 5-0 LEV)

Aston Villa vs Paris Saint Germain:

Le Paris Saint-Germain affrontera Aston Villa en quart de finale de @ChampionsLeague ! 📋🏆

Match aller le 8 ou 9 avril, au Parc des Princes.
Match retour le 15 ou 16 avril, à Villa Park. pic.twitter.com/u2l6TeBI6t

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) March 12, 2025

• Aston Villa, one of the tournament’s surprises, eliminated Club Brugge 3-1 and continues its fairytale run.
• Paris Saint-Germain edged out Liverpool in a dramatic penalty shootout, with Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as the hero.

Highlights:

Aston Villa vs Club Brugge:

First Leg: Club Brugge vs Aston Villa Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16: Aston Villa will face Club Brugge in the second leg with a two-goal lead | FT BRU 1-3 AVL

Second Leg: Aston Villa vs Club Brugge UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg Highlights: Villa to face PSG in quarters after a 3-0 win (6-1 agg)

PSG vs Liverpool:

First Leg: Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 | Alisson puts up a masterclass in Paris; Elliot's late strike sinks a ruthless PSG | FT PSG 0-1 LIV

Second Leg: Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg | PSG advances, Liverpool crash out after losing on penalties | FT LIV 0-1 PSG (1-1 AGG, 1-4 pens)

Arsenal vs Real Madrid CF:

🆚 We will face @Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the @ChampionsLeague!
🏆 @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/EAjVNVE6Q2

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 12, 2025

• Arsenal delivered a dominant performance, thrashing PSV Eindhoven 9-3 over two legs.
• Real Madrid secured their place after eliminating Atletico Madrid on penalties, setting up a high-stakes clash against the Gunners.

Highlights:

Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid:

First Leg: Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Real Madrid secured a narrow victory over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 16 | Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Second Leg: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid CF Highlights UEFA Champions League RO16 Second Leg: Real Madrid secures their spot in the quarterfinals after defeating Atletico on the penalties | ATM 1(2)-(4)0 RMA (AGG. RMA 2-2 ATM)

FC Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund:

We'll be back in Dortmund 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YLoswI3yve

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 12, 2025

• Barcelona showcased resilience, eliminating Benfica with a 4-1 aggregate victory, confirming their title ambitions.
• Dortmund fought hard to overcome Lille 3-2, demonstrating their ability to grind out results.

Highlights:

Borussia Dortmund vs Lille OSC:

READ ALSO: Lille OSC vs Borussia Dortmund Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg | Dortmund wins a thrilling contest with a second-half comeback; advances to the quarters | FT LIL 1-2 BVB (AGG 2-3)

FC Barcelona vs SL Benfica:

First Leg: Benfica vs FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 Highlights: Raphinha's strike helps 10 men Barcelona beat Benfica by 1-0

Second Leg: Barcelona vs Benfica UEFA Champions League 2024-25 RO16 Second Leg Highlights: Barcelona through to quarter-finals with an easy 4-1 win on aggregate

Quarterfinals schedule:

First Leg: April 9-10, 2025

Second Leg: April 16-17, 2025

How to watch the Match:

Quarterfinals match-ups will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website with a paid subscription. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network. 

Quarterfinal schedules:

The last 8 🤩#UCL pic.twitter.com/AaC3G5m9aB

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 12, 2025

First Leg: 

• Arsenal vs Real Madrid (Emirates Stadium, 9th April, 12:30 am IST)
• Bayern Munich vs Inter Milan (Allianz Arena, 9th April, 12:30 am IST)
• FC Barcelona vs Borussia Dortmund (Camp Nou, 10th April, 12:30 am IST)
• Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa (Parc de Princes, 10th April, 12:30 am IST)

Second Leg:

• Real Madrid vs Arsenal (Santiago Bernabeu, 17th April, 12:30 am IST)
• Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich (San Siro, 17th April, 12:30 am IST)
• Borussia Dortmund vs FC Barcelona (Signal Iduna Park, 12:30 am IST, 16th April)
• Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain (Villa Park, 16th April, 12:30 am IST)

Hello and welcome to another UEFA Champions League night. Tonight, we will cover the high-intense match-up in the UCL 2024-25 Round of 16 as Liverpool will go against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg at the Parc des Princes, Paris.

Despite a ruthless performance from PSG, Liverpool snatched a slender 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes, thanks to a late strike from Harvey Elliot and a supreme goalkeeping performance from Alisson, who made nine saves throughout the game. 

Read Also | Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain UEFA Champions League 2024-25 | Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Both teams are in contention to qualify for the quarters, as the game will offer a high-quality footballing action for the fans. So, sit back and relax as Soumit Bhattacharya brings you the buildup, news, images, live scores, news, and updates of the Liverpool vs Paris Saint-Germain match from our webdesk.

Moreover, you can follow us on Twitter for all the updates. Join our Telegram and WhatsApp channels to get all the news and scorelines.

The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 Second Leg encounters are knocking on the doors, offering some of the most decisive encounters this season, potentially setting up some big match-ups in the quarters.

After a thrilling 1-0 victory in the first leg in Paris, Liverpool will welcome Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield in Liverpool on 12 March 2025, for the second-leg encounter in the UCL 2024-25 RO16. 

Despite a ruthless performance from PSG, Liverpool snatched a slender 1-0 victory at the Parc des Princes, thanks to a late strike from Harvey Elliot and a supreme goalkeeping performance from Alisson, who made nine saves throughout the game. 

Read Also | Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool Highlights UEFA Champions League 2024-25 | Alisson puts up a masterclass in Paris; Elliot's late strike sinks a ruthless PSG | FT PSG 0-1 LIV

From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about FC Barcelona vs Benfica's second leg of the Round of 16 match in the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. 

Read Also | UCL 2024-25 Round of 16 Draw: All details

Match Details 

Match: Liverpool Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League 2024-25 Round of 16 tie, Second Leg

Date: 12 March 2025

Time: 1:30 AM IST

Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, UK

Broadcasting and Streaming Details

The match will be streamed Live on the Sony Liv app and website. Viewers can also watch the game live on TV on Sony Sports Network. 

Team News

Liverpool

Liverpool custodian Alisson Becker became the point of difference between Liverpool's victory and PSG, who made a remarkable nine saves at the Parc des Princes, except for a disallowed offside goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Liverpool were cornered during the whole game in every sector of the play, but they somehow came out of Paris with a victory, courtesy of a late strike from Harvey Elliot who found the net only after 47 seconds of coming onto the pitch.

Manager Arne Slot will have to select the team roster without Connor Bradley, Joe Gomez, and Tyler Morton, who are all recovering from long-term injuries. Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai might be the other absentees as they are doubtful.

Liverpool could face greater trouble even if they advance to the next round, as Elliott, Konaté, Mac Allister, Robertson, and Van Dijk will all be suspended for the upcoming UCL match if they receive a yellow card in this game.

Paris Saint-Germain

Despite the shock of Les Parisiens' defeat in the first leg, especially considering the number of chances they created, it was merely another chapter in PSG's ongoing struggles in the Champions League. 

PSG registered a total of zero goals from 27 shots, ending a frustrating night in defeat, as they will be desperate enough at Anfield to turn things around, in search of their much-eluded continental crown.

The Parisiens triumphed 4-1 against Rennes in the Ligue 1 last weekend, handing themselves a confidence boost ahead of the travel to Merseyside.

Un groupe de 22 Parisiens pour le déplacement à Liverpool ! 🔴🔵 #PSGLIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/VOYEFR8QgR

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) March 10, 2025

However, coach Luis Enrique will have the full squad at his disposal for selection. Only Marquinhos and Fabián Ruiz are at risk of getting suspended in the next game if they manage to progress further in this season's competition.

Head-to-head Stats

Matches played: 3

PSG won: 1

Liverpool won: 2

Draws: 0

Possible Playing XI

Liverpool

Alisson (GK); Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil Van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Harvey Elliott, Luis Díaz; Darwin Núñez

Paris Saint-Germain

Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK); Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Nuno Mendes; João Neves, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz; Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola

Liverpool vs PSG: Fantasy XI Prediction

Former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario, 'the phenomenon' named some of his colleagues, footballing legends and icons among his list of the 11 best players ever. Former Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus stars are on the list.

In this special article, we explore the greatest football XI as per Ronaldo Nazario.

The greatest football XI as per Ronaldo:

1. Pele
2. Lionel Messi
3. Diego Maradona
4. Zico
5. Romario
6. Cristiano Ronaldo
7. Marco Van Basten
8. Zinedine Zidane
9. Luis Figo
10. Rivaldo 
11. Ronaldinho

1. Pele

Ronaldo Nazario grew up in Brazil in the 80s, it is not a surprise that he picked Pele. While Ronaldo Nazario was too young to watch Pele play live, his legacy is still to this day within the football world. For many Brazilians, Pele will always be the Greatest of all time.

2. Lionel Messi

Ronaldo has often spoken highly of the Argentine forward, and it is not a surprise that he named Lionel Messi as one of the best players of all time.

Ronaldo Nazario said the following during an interview in 2020:

Messi is out of this world. He’s great. I like him much more than any other player. Everything he does is spectacular.

3. Diego Maradona

Ronaldo was born in 1976; he would have seen Diego Maradona in action during his development years and it is no surprise that the Argentine genius made such an impression on him. In reverse, Diego Maradona was always very complimentary of Ronaldo.

In 2018, Maradona said:

“If it were not for the injuries, Ronaldo would have been the best of all time.”

4. Zico

Zico spent the majority of his career playing in his native country for Flamengo. He enjoyed a brief spell in Europe with Udinese but only spent two years playing in Italy before he returned to Brazil.

The Former Brazilian midfielder also earned 71 caps for Brazil and scored 48 goals on the international stage. Despite never winning the World Cup, he is still considered one of the greatest players in the country’s history.

5. Romario

Ronaldo played a total of 19 games alongside Romario for Brazil and the pair combined for 12 goals during their time together. 

Ronaldo told Bobo TV during an interview in 2022.

In 1997, I was an important player already. I had already won the Ballon d’Or. 

During the training retreat for the Copa America, Romario suddenly told me: ‘Get ready, we go out tonight, don’t worry.’

He had prepared a ladder to climb over the hotel’s wall and there was a taxi waiting for us on the other side.

We returned at five am and I was exhausted the following day in training. I understood that Romario did it on purpose to tire me out and take my spot in the starting XI.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo

While Ronaldo Nazario neglected Cristiano Ronaldo from his three greatest players of all time, he still names the Portuguese forward in his best XI.

Ronaldo Nazario told ESPN: 

Cristiano has an incredible career; he has scored in every way possible and successfully adapted to different positions. He is undoubtedly one of the best, but not the greatest.

7. Marco Van Basten:

There can be no denying that the three-time Ballon d’Or winner ranks among the greatest players of all time. At club level, the Dutchman scored a whopping 283 goals in just 379 appearances for Ajax and AC Milan. Like Ronaldo, Van Basten had to retire his career short because of injuries.

8. Zinedine Zidane

During their time together at Real Madrid, Ronaldo played 139 games alongside Zinedine Zidane and the pair combined for 31 goals during that time. Considered by many to be the greatest midfielder of all time, it is no surprise that the Frenchman cuts into Ronaldo’s elite list.

9. Luis Figo

Ronaldo shared a close bond with Luis Figo during his playing days as the pair played alongside each other at Barcelona and Real Madrid. In fact, throughout Ronaldo Nazario's career, only Iker Casillas and Roberto Carlos played more games with him than Figo played.

The former Portuguese winger won 22 trophies throughout his career and undoubtedly ranks as one of the best players of his generation.

10. Rivaldo

Rivaldo was also recognized by Nazario as one of the best players of all time. Former Brazilian international won the Ballon d'Or in 1999. While they never played together at club level, they did make 46 appearances alongside each other when playing for the national team.

11. Ronaldinho

The last name that Ronaldo gave when naming the best players of all time was Ronaldinho. A fellow Ballon d’Or and World Cup winner, this list would feel incomplete without the legendary attacking midfielder. The pair made 39 appearances together for Brazil and won the World Cup and Copa America together.