Barcelona: At just 22 years of age, Barcelona forward Neymar will carry the hopes of 200 million Brazilians on his shoulders when the country attempts to win a sixth World Cup. The role of World Cup hosts is daunting. The raucous support and enormous pressure from supporters of the most storied country in the history of the game will be on display when Brazil start their first Group A game against Croatia on June 12. Of the 23 Brazilian players picked to put that right this year, it is Neymar who will carry the greatest burden.
Neymar followed in Pele’s footsteps at the Santos club and wears the number 10 jersey that Pele did before him. The foundations of a legend are already there. He joined Brazil’s most titled club in 2003 and made his debut for them in 2009 making an instant impact as the country’s young player of the year. Neymar already has an impressive tally of 30 goals in 47 international appearances and shone as La Selecao prepared in perfect fashion for the big occasion by winning the dress-rehearsal of the Confederations Cup last June.
However, an unconvincing first season in Europe has thrown up questions over whether he is ready to lead Brazil to World Cup glory. “This is Neymar’s first World Cup and nobody knows exactly what is going to happen. It is a big responsibility for him,” Pele said. “People mustn’t forget he is a lad of 22 — a lad of 22 is not yet an adult. Nobody who is 21 or 22 years old can be seen as a god,” he said. Yet, should he provide the magic to lead Brazil to glory, he will certainly become the new messiah of Brazilian football.
