Why is the elite pool of strikers ever shrinking?

#5 Migration to Europe at a young age

Neymar became a finished product at Santos in Brazil before moving to Barcelona

There is a certain beauty with playing football in your home country, especially if you are from the continent of South America. Whether it is on the streets or for local football clubs, outrageous talent reigns all over the continent – and it is on those shores that players learn to enjoy football. The joy of football is – lest we forget – that every single player whom we love to watch loves the game far more himself.

With all the money flowing into football, however, the landscape has changed – players are migrating to Europe far earlier in their careers, involving an instant shift from playing for the joy of it to playing for a living. Their natural skill and flair is suppressed to some extent with the tactical demands forced on them.

One need only look at Neymar to understand the benefits of staying in the domestic league for a while more – the Barcelona forward still plays with the same joy as he did for the Santos crowd back in his home country. While change is always inevitable and for the best, let us accord the best young talents more breathing space – perhaps they can love the game more, and in turn make us fall more in love with it.