SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Every time Brazil have lifted the World Cup the star of the show has been a forward, and Neymar will seek to keep up that tradition in June and July. It will not be easy to replicate the feats of Pele, Garrincha and Ronaldo, who all guided Brazil to glory at the finals, but the 22-year-old Barcelona player has what it takes to succeed on the biggest stage. As a teenager he helped Santos to their most successful run of titles since Pele was at the club more than 40 years previously and he was voted the player of the tournament when Brazil won the Confederations Cup last year.
Neymar has faced some understandable difficulties adapting to life on and off the field in Barcelona after joining almost a year ago. The financial machinations of the transfer caused the resignation of Barcelona's president while Neymar and his agent-father have become embroiled in a war of words with Santos.