written by Shahan Ahmed


Last summer, the Copa America took place in Argentina. Although South American stars like Diego Forlan, Kun Aguero, Luis Suarez, and Alexis Sanchez were on display, a showdown between 2 players and 2 teams was what fans across the globe hoped and prayed for. The 2 teams were Brazil and Argentina, and the 2 stars were Lionel Messi and Neymar. Unfortunately, that match never happened, and the 2 stars did not have the opportunity to face each other due to earlier than expected exits for both Argentina and Brazil.


In football, the word prodigy doesn’t carry the weight it does in other disciplines. Seemingly every year, a handful of young players break into the 1st team at a major club and their accomplishments deserve to be applauded as truly extraordinary. However, Messi and Neymar are truly football prodigies.

Despite widespread calls to include Neymar in Brazil’s 2010 World Cup squad, the youngster was left out by Manager Dunga. After Dunga was replaced as manager of the Brazilian national team, Neymar finally earned his first call-up to the Selecao in July of 2010. The international friendly against the United States was played in New Jersey, and Neymar was the best player on the pitch by some distance. The 18 year-old scored on his debut and electrified viewers with his creativity, dribbling, and skill. That was the first time I saw him play, and I was instantly converted into a Neymar believer. An 18 year old was the best player in Brazil's national team. That means something. Here was Brazil’s hope for 2014.

Messi is constantly compared to the Argentine great Diego Maradona

Lionel Messi, well, he’s a little different. At 23, Messi is now an old man compared to Neymar. Messi broke into Barcelona’s senior squad and became the youngest ever Barcelona player to score a goal for the senior squad. 8 seasons later, Messi has won 5 La Liga titles, 3 Champions Leagues trophies, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup with Barcelona. Personally, Messi has also won the Ballon d’or 2 years in a row and is expected to run away with winning it for a 3rd straight time, equaling Michel Platini’s achievement.

Messi is easily regarded as the best player in the world (possibly ever), and only the blindest of fans would dare make an argument against this statement. Messi hit 53 goals in 55 matches last season, but more importantly, he won the Champions League and La Liga. Messi also plays for what is regarded as the best club team in the world (possibly ever). Anything short of a victory for Barcelona in the final will be a massive shock.

Neymar, on the other hand, plays for Santos. Santos is a Brazilian club with a rich history and wide-spread support—it was Pele’s club—but Santos is not Barcelona or close to it. Unlike the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores final is a 2 legged affair. After a 0-0 1st leg in Uruguay, Santos returned to Sao Paolo for the 2nd leg. Just as Messi scored Barcelona’s winning goal against Manchester United in the Champions League final, Neymar scored Santos’ winning goal in the Copa Libertadores final. Neymar is a special talent that rises to the occasion.

The victory in the Copa Libertadores final qualified Santos for the Club World Cup, and Barcelona’s victory in the Champions League set the stage for a Messi vs Neymar: Argentina vs Brazil; Europe vs South America. After that point, Santos listened to various offers from English, Spanish, and Italian clubs, but Santos refused to entertain the possibility of a transfer until this match had been played. After all, this is Messi vs Neymar, what the world salivates over.


Pele played for Santos for nearly 20 years & is Neymar's biggest fan

Neymar is not the proven force that Messi is, but Neymar possesses a level of talent, confidence, and ability that captivates anyone who has seen him play. He has inspired his home country to a level that the last generation of players simply did not. When I was Colombia last summer ahead of the Copa America, I crossed paths with some Brazilians. We talked about Neymar, and although they were fans of Sao Paolo FC (a local rival), they proudly exclaimed that Neymar was the best player in Brazil. Fans of his rival team spoke of his creativity and style with smiles on their faces. He is the hope of Brazil, just as Messi is the hope of Argentina. The real test of Neymar will not come until 2014, when Brazil host the World Cup, but on Sunday, the world will get a glimpse at the two most electrifying talents in world football on the same pitch. For all the criticism that this competition receives, this year, the FIFA Club World Cup Final is must-watch football.

Players to watch for Santos:

Danilo: He went off with cramping in the 90th minute of the semi-final and was doing a pretty good acting job…if he was, in fact, acting. However, if he is fit, he is a 20 year-old right back worth watching. He scored a curling free kick to put Kashiwa Reysol away. After Inter Milan bought Jonathan over the summer, Danilo took over at right back. However, Porto already have a deal in place that will bring Danilo to Portugal in 2012, after this tournament.

Borges: Santos’ and Brazil’s leading goal scorer. Neymar may be the best talent on Santos, but Borges is the primary goal-scorer for the Sao Paolo based club. The 31 year-old scored Santos’ 2nd goal in the semi-final, and it rivaled Neymar’s opener in magnificence. Borges led the Brazilian Serie A in scoring this season.

Ganso: Paulo Henrique Ganso is a promising 22 year-old who also attracted a great deal of interest from Europe. Santos fought offers for both Neymar and Ganso with an eye to a final against Barcelona. Ganso is a central attacking midfielder with great vision and tremendous talent. With the experience of Elano supporting the youngster, Ganso is definitely one to watch.

Neymar: He plays in similar areas as Lionel Messi with Barcelona. He drops deep into the midfield to receive the ball, touch a pass, and run into space and look to receive another pass. Neymar will drop to either wing, but he is an active player showing and moving to advance the ball. Neymar is a much flashier player than Messi, and the Brazilian will perform some Samba steps, flicks, and tricks to entertain onlookers. What is truly exciting about Neymar is that he is a brilliant spark that stands above the rest on the pitch. It’s hard to explain, but when Neymar is on the pitch, my eyes gravitate to him and marvel in his every movement and touch. That being said, I have noticed that his finishing can be a bit inconsistent, something you cannot say about Messi. Then again, Neymar is only 19.

Barcelona: Everyone knows the entire Barcelona roster and the talent it possesses. Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Alexis, and Messi are the players to keep an eye on in the final in the attacking sense. David Villa broke his leg in the 1st half of the semi-final and should be out for a lengthy spell. Alexis Sanchez came on and scored a goal before being substituted off. Alexis should start in Villa’s place alongside Messi in attack. For all of Santos’ strengths in the midfield and attack, the Brazilians have a flimsy defense that has been known to give up goals quickly. In any case, Barcelona rested Xavi, Pique, Busquets, Alves, and Fabregas in the semi-final and still strolled to a 4-0 victory (and it wasn't even that close). Barcelona played their 4-3-3 formation in the semi-final, rather than 3 in the back that Pep has been flirting with all season. For the final, I expect a similar look to the Real Madrid Clasico last weekend.

Probable Starters:
Barcelona (same 11 v Real Madrid)
Valdes, Abidal, Puyol, Pique, Alves, Fabregas, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Messi, Alexis

Santos: (same 11 as semi-final)
Rafael, Dracena, Durval, Rodrigo, Danilo, Elano, Henrique, Arouca, Ganso, Borges, Neymar


Semi-final Highlights: (Click the link & notice highlight box on right of screen)

Santos 3-1

Barcelona 4-0