5 things Neymar needs to do to win the 2022 Ballon d'Or

#3 Win the UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain v Manchester City: Group A - UEFA Champions League

Helping PSG to the Champions League title this season would make Neymar a favorite for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. Paris have been desperately chasing the elusive trophy for over a decade now and are prepared to do everything in their power to attain it. They have only played in one Champions League final in their history (2019-20), which is unacceptable for a team as ambitious as them.

With the trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar leading their attack, PSG have a golden opportunity to end their drought this season. Standing out in the presence of Mbappe and Messi could be a challenge for the former Santos man.

However, if he doesn’t squander chances in front of goal and keep his creative juices flowing, he could emerge as the Parisians' undisputed messiah. Now is the time for Neymar to avenge 2019-20's defeat and lead PSG to their first Champions League title.

#2 Win the Golden Ball at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Brazil v Colombia - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier

The most prestigious cup competition in football, the FIFA World Cup, is set to be hosted in Qatar later this year. Brazil have already secured qualification for the marquee event and are eager to go deep into the tournament. The Selecao have plenty of brilliant players in their ranks, but none would be more scrutinized than their star man Neymar.

Brazil’s creator in chief, Neymar, is capable of not only scoring but also creating for fun. In his country’s colors, the PSG star has always played with more confidence, and the fans will expect nothing less in Qatar this year.

Since making his debut for Brazil in 2010, Neymar has played in 116 games for his country's senior team, registering 70 goals and 52 assists. If he can play to the best of his abilities and produce match-winning performances in crucial matches, the 30-year-old will surely be in contention for the Golden Ball. Winning the Golden Ball at the World Cup could go a long way in helping him win his first Ballon d'Or this year.

#1 Neymar must win the World Cup with Brazil

Brazil v Uruguay - FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Qualifier

Ballon d'Or gives great importance to international tournaments. Last year, Lionel Messi’s Copa America win helped him bag his seventh Ballon d'Or, although Robert Lewandowski was statistically better. To win his first Ballon d'Or award, Neymar must take a page out of Messi’s book and try his best to lead Brazil to international glory.

Of course, winning the World Cup is arguably the hardest thing in football, and Brazil are far from the most capable team around. Yet, with a bit of luck and a lot of determination, the five-time World Cup winners could reach the latter stages of the tournament. An appearance in the final would help Neymar’s Ballon d'Or aspirations, while a win could all but seal his first Ballon d'Or win in 2022.