Neymar added to French dictionary

Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil superstar Neymar is to be honoured by the French dictionary “Le Robert Illustre” by being entered into the coming edition of the publication.

Neymar, 26, became the most expensive player in history last summer when the French champions paid his €222 million release clause to lure him away from Barcelona and the former Santos man has become a buzzword in France’s media.

Speaking with Le Parisien, lexicographer Alain Rey explained that Neymar has earned his place in “Le Robert Illustre” because of its frequent use since his arrival last year.

“Neymar has been used with great frequency by the media over the past few months,” said Rey. “Which is why it has been retained.”

Neymar’s entry will detail that “in 2017, he became the most expensive player in the world when he joined PSG.”

Other famous football luminaries to have been honoured by “Le Robert Illustre” in the past include Pele, Michel Platini, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Neymar joins David Beckham, who had a short-lived spell with PSG back in 2013, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the dictionary, but there is no room for the likes of other former Parisien greats such as Luis Fernandez, George Weah, Rai and Ronaldinho.

“Le Robert Illustre” and the “Petit Robert” are often considered the authoritative single-volume French language dictionary.