“Neymar is at an incredible level,” said James Rodriguez of his opposite number ahead of Colombia’s crucial Copa America clash with Brazil on Wednesday night. Neymar didn’t get the chance to respond, but would have returned the compliment. After all, they are as much media-trained megastars, as they are talismans for their respective clubs and countries.
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The No 10s share many similarities, but many differences too. Let’s take up their story one year ago, at the Brazil World Cup, when James left the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza in tears while Neymar left in an ambulance.
Neymar was removed from the field in a stretcher, in clear agony, after an over-zealous challenge by Juan Zuniga – whom he is set to face again in Santiago – left him with a broken bone in his back. James’ agony was apparent too, but it was a pain of a different kind. Despite his own brilliant display and a remarkable World Cup, the then-Monaco star’s team was eliminated.
Soon it was the Brazilians who were left with tears streaming down their faces; shorn of their star man Neymar they were clinically dispatched by Germany in the semi-finals, as the hosts lost their heads in a shocking 7-1 defeat.
Things were looking up for James though. His six goals, including one against Neymar’s Brazil, were enough to win him the Golden Boot and a move to Real Madrid, with Florentino Perez splashing £71 million on the midfielder.
“I am very happy, this is a dream come true. I hope to make people very happy and win a lot of titles here,” said James. A generic quote from anything but a generic footballer.
Unlike many players who gush the same admiration upon arrival at a new club, this really was a dream for James, a supporter of Los Blancos since his youth. He had even made the journey, of his own volition, to Bavaria a few months prior to the World Cup to watch Madrid crush Bayern Munich and reach the Champions League final en route to European glory.
A year earlier, Neymar too was left blushing as Barcelona sealed the signature of world football’s brightest talent. “My dream has come true,” he explained after signing for Barcelona. “I’m very happy to be realising my life’s dream. The thrill of being cheered when I entered the Nou Camp… it was hard not to cry.”
Just like James, Neymar was not lying either. Real Madrid were offering him more money than Barcelona and the Santos graduate had the pick of the litter when it came to leaving his homeland, but his heart was set on the Catalan giants and that’s where hung his hat.
Fast-forward to October 25.
Neymar and his Barcelona teammates arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu, top of La Liga and without having conceded a single goal, to face James’ Real Madrid.
Neymar, playing with great desire after his World Cup disappointment, is in phenomenal form. Even at his peak in his debut season in Spain, he had never reached this level. As well as forging a stronger understanding with Messi, he’s more prolific in front of goal and has 10 goals in his first 10 games of the season.
When he makes that 11 in 11 after just four minutes against Real Madrid, you fear for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. But Madrid play superbly, scoring three times in response and going on to win the game, with James laying on a goal for Karim Benzema.
Benzema’nın golü. Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona http://t.co/aRWbuBiAbB
— sportsVine (@siwakura4) June 17, 2015
The Colombian had taken to La Liga like a duck to water, confidently orchestrating Real Madrid’s midfield, instinctively on the same plane of thought as the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. His instant transition to life in La Liga helped Madrid march towards a 22-game winning streak.
James’ humility on arrival at Madrid instantly endeared himself to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese realising that his new teammate was going to be an asset to his own goal-scoring endeavours. Things had been different for Neymar at Barcelona, with his signing by president Sandro Rosell, someone Messi did not get on well with, viewed by the Argentine as a potential threat to his status as Camp Nou top-dog. It took time for the frost to thaw, which was partly down to Neymar’s natural “front-man” swagger, but since it has the results have been truly spectacular. Alongside Luis Suarez, they have formed one of the most successful striking trios in Spanish football history, netting a phenomenal 122 goals between them last season.
By the time the second Clasico of the season came around in Barcelona, in March, Real Madrid’s bubble has burst and the home side were now favourites for the title. A 2-1 win for the hosts saw them close in on glory, and although Neymar’s shooting boots desert him, his dynamic running tears Madrid apart on several occasions. James and Madrid have their moments, but they are few and far between.
Since then, not much has changed for the two stellar South Americans. Neymar is playing at maximum capacity, a capacity that seems to grow every time he steps on to the picth. His performance against Peru in Brazil’s first Copa America was quite incredible, playing with his own spirit seemingly channelling the vision of his team-mate Messi. The pass with which he split the Peruvian defence to find Douglas Costa was a moment of true genius, and it handed his country a last minute winner. Neymar had opened the scoring, making it nine goals and three assists in his last 10 Brazil games.
By contrast, James has just one goal and two assists in seven games, post-World Cup for Colombia. James had a thoroughly impressive season, but Neymar had an elite year, contributing 39 goals to Barcelona’s treble success. That’s more than Samuel Eto’o, Rivaldo, Thierry Henry and many other huge names managed in a single season for the Blaugrana.
The Barcelona star has moved into hyper-drive this season and James will hope his second year in Madrid will result in the same.
But does Neymar have an edge? He certainly has the spice you need to make it to the very top, telling the world that he has no plans to change the way he plays, even if it upsets opponents. Take for example, this rainbow flick, past no other than James himself.
Many this season have resorted to hacking at the Brazilian in frustration. His double “chapeu” trick against Peru was flashy, but he backed it up with a goal, assist and a commanding display that led his country to victory.
Colombia are just as dependent on James as Brazil on Neymar, but try as he might the midfielder couldn’t inspire his side to a result against Venezuela as his team fell to a surprise defeat. Few doubt Neymar will be on the Ballon d’Or podium soon, but if James wants to join him he has work to do.
Carlos Valderrama, a Cafeteros legend, thinks that James is at the same level already, saying: “The star of the Copa America will be between James, Messi and Neymar. James is at that level.”
However, Madrid-based Brazilian journalist Fernando Kallas, who works for AS, thinks that Neymar is a step ahead of the Colombian, citing his aggressive streak.
He told Sport360: “I see Neymar as a more decisive guy, more aggressive, even mean, a player that thrives under pressure. As if he loves it the most when everything is on the line and all the responsibility is on him. That’s when he plays at his best.
“James is more of a ‘good guy’ and he has not been put under the spotlight as much as Neymar, who at a young age was a Copa Libertadores Champion carrying Santos on his back. For me, James is a superb player. But Neymar is a once-in-a-generation talent. I see him as the second best player in the world, only behind Messi. It’s incredible how he matured before our eyes in two years at Barcelona and we only could see it against Peru, where he was without Messi – but played like Messi.
“When Neymar arrived at Barcelona, he only could play as left winger. Now, he is a complete player. If he wins the Copa America playing at this level, the Ballon d’Or is between him and Messi, not Messi and Cristiano.
“I think James is a superb player. And it surprised me how he was an instant fit in the Real Madrid side, how he blended in. There was no adaptation needed. And he had a good season. But Neymar’s jump from the first to the second season in Barcelona was unbelievable. He became a man and I think something has to do with the way Brazil lost the World Cup and the fact that Dunga named him captain of the national squad. He had to mature.”
The gauntlet has been thrown down for James. He is a wonderful talent, but if he is to drive his club and country to success he must continue to develop at the same rate and keep making strides as a footballer. What better time to start that progression that on Wednesday night, with Colombia needing to take something against Brazil to retain a good chance of reaching the next phase of the Copa America?
It may even be time for James to get “mean”.
“It’s not revenge,” said James, calm and aware of the cameras beaming his words across the world, having been asked about making up for the World Cup loss to Brazil. “It’s one more match, and I think it will be a good one.”
When Brazil meet Colombia and the pair face-off, carrying the hopes of their nations on their backs, the gloves will be off. This one will be settled with colourful, endorsement-supplied boots. Right now, Neymar seems more comfortable in them.
