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#1 Neymar (PSG & Brazil)
The chosen one, this might be the season that Neymar wins the Ballon d'Or
The chosen one who for a very long time has been declared the heir apparent to the Messi/Ronaldo throne, Neymar has certainly done his chances no harm following his world record move to the French capital from Cataluña.
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He has dominated Ligue 1 like a colossus and has posted stats that will be the envy of any footballer in world football.
In the UEFA Champions League, he has delivered in the big games and while he was derided for showboating in his side’s 3-1 loss to Real Madrid in the first leg, 2nd round encounter, he still showed enough to justify his world-class billing with a wonderful acrobatic assist for Adrien Rabiot’s goal.
He will be pivotal in overturning the deficit in the second leg at the Parc De Princes and given the constant rumours linking him with a move to the Spanish giants, the idea of auditioning for arguably the greatest club in world football might be an extra motivation.
It has been sixteen years since the Seleção of Brazil emerged world champions; it has been a story of nearly and almost since the three Rs (Ronaldo, Rivaldo & Ronaldinho) led them to glory at Korea/Japan 2002.
Neymar will be the star and the man on whose shoulders the burden will be most upon as the Verde-Amarela (The Green and Yellow) seek to win their 6th world cup title.
The bitter taste of the world cup of four years ago especially the 7-1 loss to Germany in the semi-finals is one that still haunts the football-crazy nation and Neymar and co. will be going all out to erase that painful memory.
His world cup performances will be key to his getting the Ballon d'Or and if he can deliver in the yellow and blue jersey as he has done consistently, then 2018 might just be the year that Neymar finally fulfils the prophecy and ascends to the planet currently occupied by just two individuals; Messi and Ronaldo.
