Neymar thrives on pressure.
The Brazilian marvel is famed for many aspects of his game, but perhaps doesn’t get his dues when it comes to his mental strength. This is a man who was made to carry a nation’s dreams on his shoulders in a home World Cup at the tender age of 22; someone who has been heralded as the great Pele’s second coming since his early teens.
He has always played under pressure, and to his credit, continued to perform with a natural exuberance and creativity of a kid showing off to his pals in a 5-a-side kickabout. Whatever you may think about Neymar’s move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, it has brought with it a whole new set of expectations and responsibilities to deal with.
Living in Lionel Messi’s shadow was widely cited as a reason to leave the Camp Nou – a bold and arguably conceited suggestion from anyone. The former Santos man also became the most expensive player in the history of the game by multiples with his gigantic – and some would impossible to justify – €222m price tag.
All this means that there is enormous pressure on Neymar to live up to the incredible hype and monetary investment. The type of acute stress and scrutiny that could bury lesser men. But the early signs are that the 25-year-old is thriving in his new surroundings, with three goals and three assists in his opening two games for PSG.
His second goal in a 6-2 rout of Toulouse on Sunday evening was never short of mesmeric. It encapsulated so much about the player’s unique talents, from his spacial awareness and quick feet, to his dogged determination and superlative finishing…
🙌 Twist
👌 Turn
👏 FinishNeymar can do it all as he scores PSG's sixth of the evening. pic.twitter.com/GvHhz0PQEt
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 20, 2017
…but whilst football fans everywhere showered due praise upon the samba star, many out there actually found reason to criticise Neymar following the wonder goal – and use it as a reason to lambast him.
It seems that the forward is walking a tightrope for such people. Don’t play well enough, and he is condemned as a flop who was never in a million years worth PSG’s ridiculous outlay on a single player. But play too well, and he simply proves that the move to France was a joke all along and he is player against relative amateurs.
He’s damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t. Not that he seems all that bothered on current form…
https://twitter.com/mattynewall4/status/899375516255440896
https://twitter.com/ZolturoBandini/status/899441767690289157
to my surprise Neymar is playing wonderful against all those farmers.. what a joke
— ELCACHIO🇲🇽 (@eIcachio) August 20, 2017
https://twitter.com/Pookie_13/status/899415702079254529
State of that league 😂
— Liam (@TheRebelCheese) August 20, 2017
Imagine doing this in a farmers league. When you're 5-2 up. Against Toulouse. Embarrassing, imo. Lost all respect for Neymar. https://t.co/fc3APqnSzW
— Løu ⚽ (@ArsenaLouu) August 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/rragwe_Spunanki/status/899503389368877057
Joke defending, joke of a league. It's all set up for the neymar show.
— Douglas Hernández (@DouglasHz) August 21, 2017
Neymar going to PSG is the most pathetic signing ever.
— J (@JackUtdd) August 20, 2017
