Mansion Sports - Paris Saint-Germain midfielder João Neves etched his name into the history books on Saturday night with a sensational hattrick during his side’s emphatic 6–3 victory over Toulouse in Ligue 1.

PSG Showcase Their Attacking Prowess

After securing narrow 1–0 wins over Nantes and Angers in their opening two fixtures, PSG finally unleashed their full attacking firepower in a thrilling nine-goal contest against Toulouse.

Bradley Barcola contributed with PSG’s second goal of the evening, while Ousmane Dembélé struck twice from the penalty spot. Yet, the spotlight belonged firmly to Neves, who delivered an unforgettable performance.

Two Overhead Kicks and a Long-Range Thunderbolt

Neves wasted no time in capturing attention, scoring twice with spectacular overhead kicks inside the opening 14 minutes. 

Both acrobatic finishes left goalkeeper Guillaume Restes helpless as Neves found the net with his back to goal. 

His crowning moment came in the 78th minute when he unleashed a thunderous strike from 25 yards that rocketed into the top corner, completing his phenomenal hattrick.

Player of the Match and a Rare Perfect 10

For his dazzling display, Neves was awarded the Player of the Match accolade. More remarkably, he received the rare honor of a perfect 10 rating from the prestigious French outlet L’Equipe. 

Such recognition is highly significant, as L’Equipe is renowned for its rigorous and uncompromising player assessments.

Joining Football’s Most Exclusive List of Legends

With this accolade, Neves became only the 18th player in history to achieve a perfect 10 from L’Equipe, a distinction awarded just 20 times overall. 

He now shares the honor with some of football’s most illustrious names, including Lionel Messi, who achieved the feat twice for Barcelona against Arsenal in 2010 and Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland also earned two perfect 10s, once for his five-goal masterclass against RB Leipzig in 2023 and again during the 2022 Manchester Derby when he scored a hattrick in a 6–3 triumph.

Closer to home, Neves’ PSG teammate Désiré Doué achieved the same rating in last season’s UEFA Champions League final victory over Inter. 

Neymar previously claimed the honor while playing for PSG in a 2018 clash with Dijon. Other elite figures such as Kylian Mbappé and Robert Lewandowski also feature on this prestigious list.

The first two players ever to be awarded perfect 10s were Franck Sauzée and Bruno Martini, who shone for France U-21 in their victory over Greece U-21 in 1988.

Neves’ latest accomplishment not only underscores his quality as one of the finest young midfielders in world football but also elevates him into the company of legends who have carved their names into the sport’s history.