Neymar might be the answer.
Ego is a dangerous disease if left untamed. That applies in life and also to those who play sports.
In 2014-15, Barcelona’s trident–Neymar Junior, Luis Suarez, and Lionel Messi–made managers eat their words. Guided by then-Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique, the three were so good that they overshadowed Barcelona’s defensive flaws. That reality is reflected in the number of goals that Barcelona conceded against Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG) in the first leg of the 2016-17 round of sixteen in the Champions League (0-4), and also how they easily overturned the scoreline and advanced to the quarters in the return fixture (6-5).
Barcelona had the best player in the world (Messi), but it was Neymar that fans gushed about.
History informs us that public compliments can translate into high levels of personal ego. And that, I think, is what happened to Neymar.
In 2017, not long after Barcelona crashed out of the quarterfinals of the Champions League by Juventus, rumors started flying that Neymar could be out at Barca. That’s what happened. While Barcelona were busy with a pre-season tour in the U.S.–and on the eve of the transfer window deadline–Neymar signed with PSG for a world record fee of 220 million euros. It’s a record that stands to this day.
The rationale, it seems, was that Neymar would no longer be overshadowed by Messi. Ironically, though, all the players in the world play in Messi’s shadow whether or not they play for Barca.
Messi and Neymar (photo, Daily Express)
Now, here we are, two years down the road. Neymar is still waiting to win a European competition with his PSG–a feat he was so used to at Barcelona. The Brazil national football team isn’t doing that well, either.
Neymar is 27-years-old. By that age, many football fans and analysts thought that he would have elevated his game to the level of Ronaldo and Messi. That hasn’t happened.
Had Neymar remained at Barcelona and not allowed silly talk to sink into his head, the story might be different.
Ego has a way, doesn’t it?
