NEYMAR’S spectacular recent dip in form could worryingly be more than just a ‘phase’.
The Brazilian has enjoyed a sensational rise in recent seasons to earn his place among the game’s elite — with many now tipping him to take over the mantle as the world’s best.
However, like so many greats from his homeland, the party lifestyle is threatening to derail a hold him back from fulfilling his almost limitless potential.
Just last month he was given time off to return to Brazil his sister’s lavish birthday bash.
What marks Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo out as two of the game’s standouts is their consistency.
They have maintained their unbelievable high levels for the best part of a decade — while most stars only shine so brightly for two or three seasons.
It’s decision time for Neymar.
Will he go the way of Messi and Ronaldo?
Or will his time at the top be short-lived — like these five other Brazilians?
RONALDO
‘O FENOMENO’. One of the best players in history.
But could he have achieved more?
He starred in four World Cups and won two — one which he made his own.
But, as good as his great moments were, they were far too infrequent.
His hat-trick at Old Trafford in Real Madrid’s march to the Champions League semi-finals was one the highlights of a disappointing club career which yielded just too few trophies his talent truly deserved.
He became the world’s most expensive player for the second time when he moved from Barcelona to Inter in 1997 — but won one Uefa Cup in six years and was part of the side which blew the title in 2001, finishing third when they started the final day of the season in first place.
Ronaldo also became first non-European to win the Ballon d’Or on two occasions.
But he only appeared in one Champions League semi-final.
One of football’s greats. But with a bit more focus on playing, he could have been the great.
RONALDINHO
MESMERISED world football as he turned Barcelona from — let’s face it — also-rans to the dominant force in Europe.
He won the World Cup in 2002 and became one of the most wanted stars on the planet.
A year after moving to Spain, he led Barcelona to their first league title in five years as he was named European and World footballer of the Year.
He famously bamboozled Chelsea with his twinkle toes to score a stunning goal at Stamford Bridge.
And 12 months later — in 2006 — the Catalans beat Arsenal in the Champions League final.
However, it was after he had achieved European success that his career took a downward spiral.
Ronaldinho was the lynchpin as Brazil started the World Cup as favourites — but he was anonymous throughout.
His party lifestyle led to two disappointing season and he was shipped out in 2008 before he could influence the blossoming Messi.
Ronaldinho moved to Milan, but was a shadow of his former self.
He then hopped around clubs in his homeland — and is now without a team but not officially retired.
ADRIANO
ANNOUNCED his arrival with a thumping free-kick on his Inter debut in a friendly against Real Madrid.
He came to prominence during a loan spell at Parma — where he formed a brilliant striker partnership with Adrian Mutu, which ended when the Romanian earned a move to Chelsea.
It was at the 2004 Copa America where Adriano came to world’s attention.
He was top scorer and named player of the tournament as Brazil claimed their fifth win.
However, tragedy struck as his father died of a heart attack later that year.
Adriano returned to an Inter team which was about to become the dominant force in Italian football due to an ongoing match-fixing investigation.
But the striker was deeply affected by his father’s death and his form dipped dramatically.
His weight ballooned and his lifestyle was called into question by various managers.
He was eventually flogged permanently to Flamengo in 2010.
Adriano claims to have shed the weight and is trying his luck out in the MLS. He is still only 34.
KAKA
FEW could have predicted the rapid decline after his heroics home and away against Manchester United in 2007.
Kaka netted three goals over both legs of the Champions League semi-finals as Milan blew Sir Alex Ferguson’s men away.
The Rossoneri were crowned kings of Europe with victory over Liverpool in the final, and the Brazilian won the Ballon d’Or — the last man to do so before the duopoly of Messi and Ronaldo.
He reject a move to Manchester City, even though a whopping bid of £107million was on the table.
Two years later, he moved to Real Madrid for £56m to briefly become the world’s most expensive player until the Spanish giants splashed out an extra £24m on Cristiano Ronaldo weeks later.
Kaka’s new team-mate overshadowed him in La Liga — and injuries blighted his time at the Bernabeu.
The Brazilian did win a league title, but made just 85 appearances in four years.
He returned to Milan, but was never the star player again.
Kaka now plays in the MLS with Orlando City.
ROBINHO
THE young Brazilian at Santos was the talk of Europe for many years — and it was Real Madrid who swooped for him 2005.
‘The next best thing’ was integral as Los Blancos won two league titles.
However, Real Madrid’s public pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 made Robinho feel unwanted, so he asked to leave.
Man City made him the most expensive player in British football history when they signed him for £32m — and a goal on his debut made it seem like money well-spent.
However, his first season would prove mixed.
And by the halfway point of his second, he was gone.
Robinho left permanently for Milan in 2010 — and won a league title.
But he was just a member of the team, not the star.
After a spell in China, the 32-year-old is now playing out his days back in his homeland.
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