Neymar must now rise to challenge of equaling Messi

Neymar must now rise to challenge of equaling Messi

Stunning news arrived from Barcelona on Thursday. Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu had confirmed he expected a new contract for Brazilian forward Neymar.

Neymar must now rise to challenge of equaling Messi

It brings an end to a tentative period of uncertainty over Neymar‘s future. Although the likelihood was always that he would remain at the Camp Nou. Despite there was earlier talk in Brazilian media of a move to Paris Saint-Germain.

With Olympics tournament in his home nation, Neymar must now use his new contract as an opportunity. He need to see it as a springboard toward attaining the greatness which he has shown in flashes. And he must prove he can be as important to Barca as Lionel Messi has been.

Neymar was at a point out of this world during the course of the 2015-16 season. He scored 31 goals in 49 games over all competition. He helped win another four trophies. He showed a run of form that earned him the title of the most dangerous player on the planet.

There’s little question that his finest run of form came when Messi was out injured. It was in the period across October and November. The likes of Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Villarreal succumbed to his relentless trickery. Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen and BATE suffered a similar fate in Europe. Neymar scored and set up with almost equal regularity. He shouldered the burden of keeping Barca a free-scoring, on-the-front-foot side. And he did that with impressive ease and immensely impressive determination.

Even at his current level, Neymar is clearly a vital part of Barcelona’s setup. He also plays a crucial role for his national team. Captain of Brazil under manager Dunga, Neymar was withdrawn from Copa America duty to be available for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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