Neymar’s Impeccable Start To The 2022-23 Season
Amidst rumors of an exit away from Paris Saint-Germain, the Brazilian is having the best start to a season we’ve seen from him in a while.
The No. 10 has played four games and has scored seven goals, providing six assists along the way – a total of 11 goal contributions in just four matches. Not to mention he’s played every single minute of those games.
4 Appearances
⚽️ 7 Goals
️ 6 AssistsNeymar is on for PSG this season. pic.twitter.com/0icIKCx7a2— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) August 21, 2022
Neymar is fit and he’s back to his best. The soccer world is smiling.
Overrated Or Overhated?
Neymar is often acclaimed as the third-best soccer player of this generation (behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi). Though, unlike those mentioned, the Brazilian has not yet won a Ballon d’Or. This is, to many, a sign of his laziness, and to others a matter of bad luck (playing at the same time as two of soccer's greatest ever.)
Regardless, the player who was once the promising heir to Brazil’s greatest ever has turned 30 and has neither the individual awards or the World Cup to seal his legacy and silence his heavy detractors.
So, if he didn’t manage to win the prized golden award before, why would he do it now that he’s past his “prime” and in a team playing alongside Kylian Mbappé and Messi?
The Key To 2022-23 Campaign Success: Motivation For World Cup Glory
Neymar over the last couple years with PSG has been one thing – failed European runs, injuries, faking injuries, drama, accused of missing games to go with his sister back in Brazil, Netflix documentaries, you name it. Though, the Neymar we get with Brazil is a completely different person.
The Brazilian absolutely bullied every team in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
In the qualifiers, Neymar scored eight goals and provided eight assists (16 goal contributions) in 10 games.
The 2016 Olympic gold medalist is a different breed when he puts on the verde e amarela.
2022 World Cup Stardom = 2023 Ballon d'Or?
Now, it’s no secret that Neymar’s biggest dream is to lift the World Cup trophy with Brazil.
“I’m preparing myself both physically and mentally so that everything goes well, and we have a ‘Brazilian World Cup’ this time. I’ll give my life for it, I have played it two times now and I know how it works,” said the PSG player, and we believe him.
After two World Cup tournaments and shortcomings, the winger has played 10 games, scoring six goals and providing three assists.
He’s an international guarantee.
Now, at 30 years old, Qatar might be the Brazilian’s last real chance to make an impact with the national team and help bring their sixth golden trophy home.
In effect, there’s no better way to do so than to come into the tournament in the best form possible and by the looks of it, Ney is doing just that.
Brazil, for one, is arguably the strongest candidate to win the tournament, and if Neymar performs with Brazil the same way he’s done in the past World Cups, France Football might be in for a treat.
After all, whatever happens in Qatar will count for next year's golden award.
No more January to December.
The #ballondor will now be awarded on the basis of a classic football season : August to July!No worries, the Qatar World Cup will count for the 2023 award. pic.twitter.com/BPvNp4jTNM
— Ballon d'Or #ballondor (@francefootball) March 11, 2022
At the same time, while he prepares himself to be in the best form possible heading into the World Cup, a collective effort from PSG domestically, and in the UEFA Champions League might just give the Brazilian star-boy an even bigger chance at the 2023 Ballon d’Or along the way.
Who wouldn’t want to see Neymar holding the 2023 Ballon d’Or?
