- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Neymar in Messi’s shadow?
- Updated: October 24, 2016
Guillem Balague looks at Neymar’s role at Barcelona and wonders whether he can reach his full potential in the same team as Lionel Messi.
Neymar signed a new five-year contract at Barcelona on Friday, but last week was also a reminder that he does not enjoy quite the same status as his strike partners.
Lionel Messi stole the headlines with a hat-trick against Manchester City on Wednesday, and Luis Suarez took centre stage when he was presented with La Liga’s golden boot on Thursday.
But while Neymar has grown accustomed to his illustrious team-mates taking the limelight, his importance to Barcelona should not be underestimated.
The Brazilian made his 100th La Liga appearance on Saturday, helping Barcelona to their dramatic 3-2 win over Valencia.
He has scored 59 goals and claimed 30 assists in that time, and while those totals are relatively modest by Messi and Suarez’s standards, a deeper look at the stats shows a pattern of constant improvement.
In La Liga and Champions League games combined, Neymar’s productivity has increased every year since his arrival at Barcelona in 2013. He has averaged a …
