Neymar: Top class at the Confeds – is it time to believe the hype?

From next season onwards, his aptitude for beautiful football will be paired with the inimitable Lionel Messi, joining forces to undoubtedly cause a mess in the opposing defenders’ shorts. Many defensive coaches in Spain will either be handing in their notice, or desperately trying to prove their mettle by meticulously concocting a plan to negate the potentially devastating effect of the pair.

Pace and trickery are not all to shout about in regards to Neymar’s game. He too is a player with good vision, ambidexterity, a talent for crossing and a fantastic eye for goal. Though he can be slightly selfish, he has the ability to be a wonderful team player, linking well with those around him, dazzling opponents with movement and skill.

Mix that with the current Barcelona squad, and you have yourself football at its best. It will be intriguing to see how Neymar will cope with being second best, though he has always believed Messi to be the best in the world, he’s never had to deal with a team-mate being a bigger and better star, not to mention Barca’s other stars.

The two working together is not all for Barcelona to worry about, they must also worry about Neymar’s adaptation to the Spanish game. Brazil is far more counter-attack based; less tactical. Many believe that to stop Neymar, you only have to mark him. He must disprove this notion.

His touch and quick feet is enough to show potential of being a great player in situations when marked, but now he must prove it on a weekly basis on a bigger stage for a bigger club with better players, with more at stake.

He must settle and show signs of his talent rather quickly if he’s to turn his critics into admirers. Football is a harsh game; one poor performance and you’re overrated and no good. That’s just the way it is. He has all the attributes to be a superstar, but will possibly take time to adjust.

Having been brought up in the Brazilian game, around Brazilian coaches drumming a Brazilian mentality into his skull, it will be a big change for him coming to Europe. Many have failed to impose themselves on the European game, although he can take inspiration from fellow internationals Oscar and Lucas Moura, with both having recently moved to Europe, earning adulation from both press and fans for their performances.

At 5? 9? and 8 stone wet through, Neymar’s a lightweight. Stand him next to most defenders and he’s dwarfed by their pure size and imposing stature. But when ‘in the zone’, he’s a determined, majestically angelic dribbler, displaying wizardry far beyond his years.

Despite the diving, he’s incredibly similar to Ronaldinho: skill not for show, but for necessity. Skill to escape defenders; to create space; to make the game easier. And maybe some for show as well.

So much has been accomplished by this young man; 23 international goals in 37 international games so far for the Brazil senior side, and 136 goals in 225 games at club level for Santos really is remarkable, as is his list of individual honours.

So many statistics can be used to prove his importance to Santos and Brazil, and Barcelona in the future too, most probably. He has been Santos’ talisman since his first ever goal, breaking goalscoring records along the way, whilst also becoming the clubs top goalscorer since the legendary Pelé. And there will be many, many more goals to come.

Watching Neymar at his best is a truly compelling experience, though some feel they’re just watching an over-hyped, overpaid, theatrical Robinho. But the young prodigy has all the time in the world to show everyone what he can do.

His first season at Barcelona will not be his finest, but there’s no way it will affect his chances of making the Brazil squad for the World Cup. He’s their main man; their star; their biggest hope of glory.

So, should we believe the hype? Absolutely, bloody yes.