Neymar's first season in Europe didn't go to plan as the club won no accolades and there was a lot of controversy over the money paid by Barcelona for his transfer.
Following a big-money move and having won the Confederations Cup last year, this isn't exactly the kind of season he would have wanted to have preceding the World Cup at home.
Having been played on the left wing pre-dominantly (and one game on the right wing against Real Madrid), Neymar was effective in the big games but failed to deliver otherwise. The distinct style of football played at Barcelona has yet to synchronize with Neymar's Brazilian roots, which consists of a game based on pace and flair.
Often likened to Pele and wearing the iconic No.10 jersey for his country, Neymar is a consistent performer for the national team. His record for Brazil stands at 30 goals from 47 appearances. This is much better than Ronaldo for Portugal or Lionel Messi for Argentina.
Such a brilliant record for a 23-year old youngster implies that he is indeed a special player. Neymar's ability on the big stage came to the fore last year when he was the key player in Brazil's triumph in the Confederations Cup. He was named the Player of the Tournament after he ended with four goals, one of which was in the final.
Although his form at Barcelona was quite shaky, Neymar continued his exploits in the national team after the Confederations Cup, scoring 7 goals in 8 appearances. All these are clearly indicative of the fact that Neymar plays best when he is part of a counter-attacking set up where he can put his ball skills to the best use.
Just like the Confederations Cup, Neymar will be expected to lead the attack at the World Cup. And it is essential that he performs well for Brazil to have a good chance of winning the tournament.
