He's more dangerous than Messi and Ronaldo... but where does Neymar rank among the pantheon of brilliant Brazilians?
JEFF POWELL IN BRAZIL: They call Pele the greatest of all time
and most of the world agrees. Many here in Brazil call Garrrincha even
greater that Pele because he played football with the rhythmic soul of
the samba nation and personified the spirit of the beautiful game.
He scores, four times already on his
way to what may be his winning of the Golden Boot at this World Cup. He
winks cheekily. He smiles. He mingles with the Brazilian people as if he
is still simply one of their own.
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Neymar rapidly climbing the ranks towards Brazilian greatness... with only Pele and Garrincha left for 22-year-old to rise above
- Neymar has scored 37 goals in 53 internationals for Brazil
- He is only 22 years old but could inspire his nation to lift the World Cup
- Neymar scored twice as Brazil beat Cameroon 4-1 to qualify for last 16
- Arguably only Pele and Garrincha now bigger 'giants' of Brazilian football
- He insists on having 'Neymar Jr' on shirt such is his reverence of his father
They call Pele the greatest of all time and most of the world agrees.
Many
here in Brazil call Garrincha even greater that Pele because he played
football with the rhythmic soul of the samba nation and personified the
spirit of the beautiful game.
They
call Ronaldo the Phenomenon because how he ever came back on crippled
legs to win one of their five World Cups so far and thus become the
leading goalscorer in the history of the these Finals defies mortal
rationalisation.
Samba magic: Neymar has scored four goals at this World Cup to fire Brazil into the last 16
Finisher: Following his double against Cameroon, Neymar has 37 goals in 53 internationals for Brazil
VIDEO Neymar better than Pele
PROFILE: NEYMAR JR
Age: 22 (D.O.B. 05/02/1992)
Born: Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil
Position: Forward
Clubs: Santos (2009-13), Barcelona (2013-)
International debut: August 10, 2010 vs USA
International caps: 53
First international goal: August 10, 2010 vs USA
International goals: 37
Born: Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil
Position: Forward
Clubs: Santos (2009-13), Barcelona (2013-)
International debut: August 10, 2010 vs USA
International caps: 53
First international goal: August 10, 2010 vs USA
International goals: 37
They don’t know what to call Neymar.
Not yet.
But what they do suspect is that they may, just may, have found Brazil’s successor to the legend of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.
If Neymar da Silva Santos Junior is the next Pele then we are watching it happen at this World Cup.
What
makes this all the more possible – not to mention so thrilling that we
hardly dare believe it – is that this young man refuses to countenance
any such comparison.
‘Pele is a god,’ he says. ‘I’m a footballer.’
You
have to love a boy - he is still only 22 - who insists on having Neymar
Jr inscribed on the back of that imperishable yellow shirt in reverence
of his father.
No
that his football playing dad ever scored a goal of genius like the
first of the two he put past Cameroon to ensure that the host nation
dazzle on to the last 16 of the first World Cup played in this spiritual
home of the beautiful game since 1950.
But it speaks of respect.
Looking up: Arguably only Pele and Garrincha now stand ahead of Neymar in the list of Brazilian greats
Poise: Neymar readies himself to score Brazil's opening goal against Cameroon in their 4-1 World Cup victory
BRAZIL'S ALL-TIME TOP SCORERS
1) Pele - 77 goals (92 caps)
2) Zico - 66 goals (88 caps)
3) Ronaldo - 62 goals (98 caps)
4) Romario - 55 goals (70 caps)
5) Bebeto - 39 goals (75 caps)
6) Neymar - 37 goals (53 caps)
2) Zico - 66 goals (88 caps)
3) Ronaldo - 62 goals (98 caps)
4) Romario - 55 goals (70 caps)
5) Bebeto - 39 goals (75 caps)
6) Neymar - 37 goals (53 caps)
Neymar has
already had with a former girlfriend a son, who he vows will always be
central to his life, plus a tabloid affair with a glamourous TV
celebrity. Yet he remains the fresh-faced lad every Brazilian mother
would love her daughter to bring home for dinner.
Yet
there is a feisty edge to this personality which is reminiscent, also,
of the icon whose boots he is being called upon to fill.
Pele
could look after himself on the pitch if put to the intimidation.
Similarly, when a Cameroon heavy gave him a gratuitous and potentially
wounding shove into the cameramen and their heavy equipment, Neymar
brushed away the false hand of apology and promptly sent his assailant
and his team=mates on their way home with another defeat.
We
will come to recall many moments when Neymar convinced of his greatness
but that will remain one of mine. Along, of course, with the goals and
the wondrous touches of skill.
The magic is beginning to enchant the watching world, especially as it its couched within his boyish charm.
Reverence: The 22-year-old insists on having 'Neymar Jr' on his back, such is his respect for his father
The best: Pele is widely regarded as Brazil's greatest ever player but Neymar is now making his mark
Treble: Pele won three World Cups and Neymar is hoping to inspire Brazil to their sixth triumph
In that, he is more reminiscent of Garrincha than Pele. For that, they love him all the more.
But in the reckoning it is the exquisite ability that counts.
In
a game increasingly populated by men of muscle and power, he is a
wraith wrapped around silken skills. In that he reminds me of George
Best, a will o’ the wisp with the courage to deliver his talent.
I
defer to no-one in my worship of the pantheon of Brazilian footballers
but in my estimation Neymar is close to superceding most of them...
Zico, Falcao, Didi, Vava, Jairzinho, Rivellino, Romario and Ronaldinho
included.
Time
will be the judge, of course. But he is so good that the modern
generation have a discussion in which to engage which is of their time.
The
tendency has been to propose Lionel Messsi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the
current pretenders to the thrones of not only Pele and Co but Diego
Maradona, Alfredo di Stefano and Johan Cruyff.
Class: Arguably only Garrincha (left) and Pele now stand ahead of Neymar in Brazil's all-time great list
Brazilian
great: Neymar has arguably surpassed (clockwise from top left) Vava,
Zico, Romario, Ronaldo, Jairzinho and Ronaldinho in the list of
Brazilian greats following his exploits at the 2014 World Cup on home
soil
Both are marvellous player but Neymar brings something all the more valid to the debate.
Messi
tends to operate on the wide right so as to cut in onto this wand of a
left foot and Ronaldo is inclined to work the left flank in readiness
for angling in onto his potent right.
But Neymar works where it hurts, where it can do the most damage, where it really matters.
Through the middle.
That
is how he has come to play 53 games for his country at such a tender
age, scoring 37 goals in the process. That is why he just might win this
World Cup for Brazil. That is why he is climbing so quickly through the
ranks of greatness.
I would suggest that only two giants remain for him to elevate himself above - Pele and Garrincha.
That
enormous task does not appear to be beyond him. It will take more than
one World Cup to make it happen but if he works his magic here, he could
well be on his way to immortality.
Perhaps, one day, he will be talked of not as the new Pele - but as the first Neymar.
VIDEO Neymar will handle the pressure - Ronaldo
Clinical: Ronaldo scored important goals for Brazil to help them to World Cup glory in 2002
Finisher: Neymar strikes to score his second during Brazil's 4-1 victory over Cameroon
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