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Goal.com 50: Neymar (30)
Goal.com's countdown of the best 50 players of 2010-11 continues with the young Brazilian sensation, who has become one of the most sought after players this summer.
Aug 4, 2011 4:00:00 AM
By KS Leong
Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
Brazil's insatiable appetite to produce the brightest young stars and the best players in the world has led them to unearth another gem of a talent.
Neymar has already been showered with praise from the who's who of Brazilian football, from Pele and Romario, to Ronaldo and Kaka. But is he the new Pele, the new Ronaldo, the new Robinho, or the new Garrincha?
Europe's elite clubs have long had their eyes on Neymar, but the 2010-11 season confirmed the Santos star as one of the most promising prospects in recent memory.
It didn't take long for a soap opera tug-of-war to ensue, as his Brazilian club was forced to fight off advances from Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona Manchester United, AC Milan and Inter to name but a few. And it's not hard to see why.
Throughout 2010 from the Brasileiro to the Paulista championships, Neymar bagged 42 goals in 60 appearances, instantly highlighting his prolific goalscoring instincts.
In the 2011 Copa Libertadores, the precocious 19-year-old netted six goals to finish as the tournament's second-highest scorer as his exploits guided Santos to the famous South American club trophy, 48 years after Pele had done the same.
But simply scoring goals didn't turn Neymar into the young sensation he is today. It was his dazzling, confident performances that caught the imagination of scouts from all over Europe.
From his audacious penalty kicks, where he would stop dead right on the spot, to his mazy dribbling and lightning-quick pace, he had all the ingredients to accommodate his lethal finishing and make him one of the most complete young strikers in the game today.
His sensational and consistent club form made it impossible for new Selecao coach Mano Menezes to leave him out of the national setup. In just nine appearances since his debut in August 2010, he has already chalked up five goals, including two in the 2011 Copa America.
But the continental tournament in Argentina was a huge disappointment for Neymar. Seen as an opportunity for him to stamp his mark in the international stage and make the competition his own, the Sao Paulo native failed to live up to the hype and expectations, and the brace he scored against Ecuador did nothing to mask his uninspiring displays.
The 2011-12 campaign will be a momentous season for Neymar. If he stays with Santos as it is now widely expected, he will have a chance to prove his worth again during the Club World Cup. At the turn of the year, his long-awaited move to Europe could finally materialize. And if it does happen, it will be the turning point of his fledgling career.
Brazil's insatiable appetite to produce the brightest young stars and the best players in the world has led them to unearth another gem of a talent.
Neymar has already been showered with praise from the who's who of Brazilian football, from Pele and Romario, to Ronaldo and Kaka. But is he the new Pele, the new Ronaldo, the new Robinho, or the new Garrincha?
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"To me, he is already the best Brazilian player and I am sure that after one or two years in Europe he can be the best player in the world." - Ronaldo |
Europe's elite clubs have long had their eyes on Neymar, but the 2010-11 season confirmed the Santos star as one of the most promising prospects in recent memory.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| 2011 COPA LIBERTADORES FINAL SANTOS 2-1 PENAROL |
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| Scored the opening goal for Santos in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final to help his team win the title for the first time since 1963 |
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Throughout 2010 from the Brasileiro to the Paulista championships, Neymar bagged 42 goals in 60 appearances, instantly highlighting his prolific goalscoring instincts.
In the 2011 Copa Libertadores, the precocious 19-year-old netted six goals to finish as the tournament's second-highest scorer as his exploits guided Santos to the famous South American club trophy, 48 years after Pele had done the same.
But simply scoring goals didn't turn Neymar into the young sensation he is today. It was his dazzling, confident performances that caught the imagination of scouts from all over Europe.
From his audacious penalty kicks, where he would stop dead right on the spot, to his mazy dribbling and lightning-quick pace, he had all the ingredients to accommodate his lethal finishing and make him one of the most complete young strikers in the game today.
His sensational and consistent club form made it impossible for new Selecao coach Mano Menezes to leave him out of the national setup. In just nine appearances since his debut in August 2010, he has already chalked up five goals, including two in the 2011 Copa America.
But the continental tournament in Argentina was a huge disappointment for Neymar. Seen as an opportunity for him to stamp his mark in the international stage and make the competition his own, the Sao Paulo native failed to live up to the hype and expectations, and the brace he scored against Ecuador did nothing to mask his uninspiring displays.
| "Neymar is flattered to be compared to Pele, but he feels that his style of play is more akin to Garrincha's." |
The 2011-12 campaign will be a momentous season for Neymar. If he stays with Santos as it is now widely expected, he will have a chance to prove his worth again during the Club World Cup. At the turn of the year, his long-awaited move to Europe could finally materialize. And if it does happen, it will be the turning point of his fledgling career.
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