Messi may be the best player in world football, yet Neymar is the best of 2015
It's Sunday January 4th 2015 and Lionel Messi and Neymar are sitting on the bench for Barcelona vs David Moyes Real Sociedad. Barca go 1-0 down and the camera pans to Neymar who looks at Messi and with a wry smile indicates it’s time to warm up. Yet even Messi and Neymar couldn’t change the result. This game had many believing it could be Luis Enrique’s last for Barca. Since his arrival in the summer of 2014 there had been critcisms from within and outside the club regarding his tactics, methods and handling of players. It seemed he wished to alter the style of Barca, leading to something of an overreaction in terms of an 'existential crisis' at the club.
Enrique wasn’t wrong with wanting to improve the style, it had become a little predictable post-Guardiola, and Tata Martino seemed to want to alter the style drastically. Enrique simply wanted to embrace the counter attack more often, not simply looking to score goals from building play. It may have caused a few issues at first, yet something after that Sociedad clicked in the minds of the players, and Barca turned a drastic corner in 2015.
The game versus Atletico on Jan 11th was set-up to be a true test for Barca and Enrique, yet it was one of their best performances of the season. Messi was majestic, and the transiton’s were excellent. This blog wrote how Simeone got his tactics and strategy dramatically wrong in this game, yet truth was Barca were at their best. It was energetic, the passing was crisp, the counter attacks ruthless and the pressing as good as it had been for some years. And it wasn’t a one-off. This continued all the way through to the end of the season, a period which brought a fantastic treble success and which justified the board’s choice to stay with Enrique.
So what had changed? Well, it appeared that Enrique was seeking to find a way to bring out the best in his forward trio of Messi, Neymar the newly acquired Luis Suarez. He tried a 4-4-2 diamond, a 4-2-3-1, yet nothing seemed to really work. When he finally reverted back to the ‘classic’ Barca 4-3-3 (perhaps after consultation with Messi regarding what would suit him) and put Messi right, Neymar left and Suarez through the middle, the players clicked and team excelled.
Whether it was a perfect design by Enrique, periodising the season in order for the team to click post Christmas, or if it was simply luck and eventual humility to give in to Messi, what is clear is that the team reached new heights in 2015. The attacking triumvirate proved too much for all that came before them, and they galvanised the rest of the team, with Gerard Pique particularly returning to the world class form he showed form 2009-2012. What was clear about 2015 was that the Ballon D'or was going to Cataluna, the question was, to who?
The best, or most deserving?
There is no doubt that Lionel Messi is the greatest player in the world, arguably of all time. And there is also an argument to say that he has actually improved his all-round game this past 12 months (as this article discusses). His nomination for the Ballon D’or is no surprise and neither would his fifth attainment of the prestigious trophy. Messi is simply the best.
However, there is an argument to say that without the talents of both Neymar and Luis Suarez Barca would not have been able to win the treble. The problem under Guardiola and then inherited by Vilanova was the over-reliance on Messi and the growing fixation on surrounding him with midfielders over forwards. Barca’s three-pronged attack which had worked so well in 2006, 2009 and 2011 had become a one-man show with a supporting cast. And Barca had suffered for it.
When Neymar arrived there was a sense that this may not just be a forward to play with Messi, but the replacement for Messi. And the first season together certainly produced some mixed results. However Suarez brought out the best in both, and made a somewhat difficult duo, into a tremendous trio. Between the three of them they scored a total of 136 goals in 2015, that is just phenomenal. This is one of the best forward trio’s seen in the game, ever. The fact Suarez isn’t in the final three, and Ronaldo is, points more to favouritism than it being based on actual football. Neymar's inclusion is no surprise, he deserves this award. Ultimately a Barcelona player will win the trophy, and that means it’s either Messi or Neymar. And while Messi is the best, I genuinely believe Neymar deserves this award, because in my opinion he has been the best footballer in 2015.
The precocious talent who has proved his doubters wrong
It's Sunday January 4th 2015 and Lionel Messi and Neymar are sitting on the bench for Barcelona vs David Moyes Real Sociedad. Barca go 1-0 down and the camera pans to Neymar who looks at Messi and with a wry smile indicates it’s time to warm up. Yet even Messi and Neymar couldn’t change the result. This game had many believing it could be Luis Enrique’s last for Barca. Since his arrival in the summer of 2014 there had been critcisms from within and outside the club regarding his tactics, methods and handling of players. It seemed he wished to alter the style of Barca, leading to something of an overreaction in terms of an 'existential crisis' at the club.
Enrique wasn’t wrong with wanting to improve the style, it had become a little predictable post-Guardiola, and Tata Martino seemed to want to alter the style drastically. Enrique simply wanted to embrace the counter attack more often, not simply looking to score goals from building play. It may have caused a few issues at first, yet something after that Sociedad clicked in the minds of the players, and Barca turned a drastic corner in 2015.
The game versus Atletico on Jan 11th was set-up to be a true test for Barca and Enrique, yet it was one of their best performances of the season. Messi was majestic, and the transiton’s were excellent. This blog wrote how Simeone got his tactics and strategy dramatically wrong in this game, yet truth was Barca were at their best. It was energetic, the passing was crisp, the counter attacks ruthless and the pressing as good as it had been for some years. And it wasn’t a one-off. This continued all the way through to the end of the season, a period which brought a fantastic treble success and which justified the board’s choice to stay with Enrique.
So what had changed? Well, it appeared that Enrique was seeking to find a way to bring out the best in his forward trio of Messi, Neymar the newly acquired Luis Suarez. He tried a 4-4-2 diamond, a 4-2-3-1, yet nothing seemed to really work. When he finally reverted back to the ‘classic’ Barca 4-3-3 (perhaps after consultation with Messi regarding what would suit him) and put Messi right, Neymar left and Suarez through the middle, the players clicked and team excelled.
Whether it was a perfect design by Enrique, periodising the season in order for the team to click post Christmas, or if it was simply luck and eventual humility to give in to Messi, what is clear is that the team reached new heights in 2015. The attacking triumvirate proved too much for all that came before them, and they galvanised the rest of the team, with Gerard Pique particularly returning to the world class form he showed form 2009-2012. What was clear about 2015 was that the Ballon D'or was going to Cataluna, the question was, to who?
The best, or most deserving?
There is no doubt that Lionel Messi is the greatest player in the world, arguably of all time. And there is also an argument to say that he has actually improved his all-round game this past 12 months (as this article discusses). His nomination for the Ballon D’or is no surprise and neither would his fifth attainment of the prestigious trophy. Messi is simply the best.
However, there is an argument to say that without the talents of both Neymar and Luis Suarez Barca would not have been able to win the treble. The problem under Guardiola and then inherited by Vilanova was the over-reliance on Messi and the growing fixation on surrounding him with midfielders over forwards. Barca’s three-pronged attack which had worked so well in 2006, 2009 and 2011 had become a one-man show with a supporting cast. And Barca had suffered for it.
When Neymar arrived there was a sense that this may not just be a forward to play with Messi, but the replacement for Messi. And the first season together certainly produced some mixed results. However Suarez brought out the best in both, and made a somewhat difficult duo, into a tremendous trio. Between the three of them they scored a total of 136 goals in 2015, that is just phenomenal. This is one of the best forward trio’s seen in the game, ever. The fact Suarez isn’t in the final three, and Ronaldo is, points more to favouritism than it being based on actual football. Neymar's inclusion is no surprise, he deserves this award. Ultimately a Barcelona player will win the trophy, and that means it’s either Messi or Neymar. And while Messi is the best, I genuinely believe Neymar deserves this award, because in my opinion he has been the best footballer in 2015.
The precocious talent who has proved his doubters wrong
When Neymar arrived to Barcelona that were some who
questioned his talent. Many thought he was over-hyped and a ‘show pony’ rather
than an actual talented footballer. Many questioned if he could cut it in
Europe, with the Brasil league being of such a lower quality. Was he going to
be another Brasilian flop like Robinho? It all seemed a case of bitterness towards a flashy young man. Truth was Neymar exhibited exceptional talent. And for that talent to shine and prosper it required a smart decision of where to arrive in Europe. Barca was ideal. It had great players within it which would help him, and he too could help the club. There was certainly a sense it had become 'too' Spanish, that it lacked the Brasilian flair which had characterised the club for 25 years. It was a perfect match.
Neymar has answered his critics in his time at Barca, and near enough silenced all those who doubted him. Neymar has showcased not just his skills, dribbling and finishing but has shown a maturity and intelligence in his game which marks the very best. Perhaps in his first season there was a sense of him needing to understand his role more effectively, he often moved into other players space and looked dis-cordinated with his teammates, seeking to be the 'star' and be the game changer, over playing for the team. Yet he has grown and matured in his play, and in the space of 12 months proved that he is one of the best in world football. In 2015 he has took that further and proved to be the nearest challenger to Messi’s crown as the world's best.
Neymar has answered his critics in his time at Barca, and near enough silenced all those who doubted him. Neymar has showcased not just his skills, dribbling and finishing but has shown a maturity and intelligence in his game which marks the very best. Perhaps in his first season there was a sense of him needing to understand his role more effectively, he often moved into other players space and looked dis-cordinated with his teammates, seeking to be the 'star' and be the game changer, over playing for the team. Yet he has grown and matured in his play, and in the space of 12 months proved that he is one of the best in world football. In 2015 he has took that further and proved to be the nearest challenger to Messi’s crown as the world's best.
Neymar scored 41 goals in the year, less than Messi and
Suarez with 48 each. And assisted less also, 16 compared to 23 and 22
respectively. However, while quantity is important, I feel Neymar played the
greatest contribution to Barcelona’s Champions League run and ultimate success.
Neymar became the first player to score in both legs of the quarter finals,
semi-finals and in the final. Scoring against PSG, Bayern and Juve, the
champions of France, Germany and Italy is a sign that unlike some forwards,
Neymar is able to perform and contribute versus the best, on the biggest stage, consistently.
This is not to degrade any contribution of Messi, his goals vs Bayern were
magnificent and as mentioned already he controlled Barca's attacking play with some of the best playmaking ability. However there is a sense that Neymar truly stepped up and made the
key contributions necessary in these biggest of games and proved his worth.
Of course I must touch on Copa America, in which both Neymar and
Messi took part. Neymar scored in the first game and was then sent off resulting in him banned for the remainder of Brasil’s tournament. While Messi
scored only scored one he once again took his country to the final, the second in the space of a year, yet lost this
one too. He was awarded the player of the tournament award, like he was in the
World Cup, yet decided not to accept this one.
Messi undoubtedly outshone his fellow teammate in this tournament, and added more to his case for being the best player of the year. But the season and trophy awarding does not reflect on a season, but a calendar year. And in the case of Neymar, he has been the best player in Europe, not just in Spain or Barcelona, this season.
Messi undoubtedly outshone his fellow teammate in this tournament, and added more to his case for being the best player of the year. But the season and trophy awarding does not reflect on a season, but a calendar year. And in the case of Neymar, he has been the best player in Europe, not just in Spain or Barcelona, this season.
Let’s touch on the goals and assists contribution. Neymar’s
role in the attack is to provide width out left to create more space for the
attacking midfielder inside left, and to stretch the play to create width.
Messi controls the tempo and attack which often means Neymar is on the opposite
side. However his role in this team is necessary and important, and the
discipline he shows from this shows a lot of intelligence and understanding.
His timing of runs behind the defence, particularly when Messi comes inside
with the ball is fantastic, and clinical which has led to many goals this past year. It is a lovely partnership and understanding the two have
However, it has been in Messi’s injury absence where Neymar truly stepped up
as Barca’s ‘key man’. He came out of the shadow of Messi and stepped into the
spotlight. And with it he showed pure brilliance and quality. His contribution in terms
of goals and assists is clear; he leads La Liga's scorers charts with 15 goals, and has 7 assists. Yet it has been his overall performances
which captivated and impressed. He appears more free, more creative and simply more entertaining in Messi's absence. He plays football similar to what we saw Ronaldinho do at the Camp Nou a decade
ago. Neymar was given the green light to run the show, and he took the
opportunity with both hands.
Now this award is for a players contribution over the course of the year. I actually think this is wrong considering the best leagues run their seasons from August – May (therefore making the award based on season, and thus held in the summer a better idea) the fact it is a 2015 award means you have to look across the whole calendar year.
And while Barca’s success can be attributed to all three forwards, while Messi is unquestionably the best player in the world, Neymar has, for me, actually been the most consistent and effective throughout the year. And this has been shown in this present 2015/16 season as well as what he did in the Champions League last season. If you don’t agree that Neymar has been Barca’s best player this season then I suggest you haven’t watched enough of Barca this season. He has been exceptional.
If Messi does win it, no-one can begrudge him this award. To win this award a possible five times is simply a staggering achievement and a true compliment to the consistency he has shown as a player. He truly is phenomenal. And if Neymar does place 2nd, I expect him to win it one day, he has all the tools, the skill, the mentality and the will to want to be the best.
Yet will he need Messi to depart to make this ambition come true? There are many rumours of Messi leaving Barca for potentially England, this may seem madness to allow your best player to leave, but Neymar (and Suarez) have shown that they can perform without Messi. And it may be that Neymar needs to become Barca's key player in order to become the world's best.
Time will tell on this one, yet what is for sure is that Barcelona possess the three best forward players in the game today, and have the greatest attacking trio football has seen. Individual awards are 'nice', yet it is the team success and trophies which truly matter, and Barca, once again, have dominated the world of football this past year. Unquestionably this is the greatest club of the 21st century.
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