Ex-Brazil manager backs Neymar to be the best player at next World Cup

Former Brazil manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo has backed Neymar to be the best player at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Paris Saint-Germain star struggled with a foot injury during the backend of the previous league campaign and this partly hampered his performances for Brazil at the World Cup finals in Russia.

Moreover, he was also heavily criticised for the diving antics whenever he was fouled at the global tournament but Luxemburgo believes the attacker will be better prepared for the next World Cup in the Middle East, he told Omnisport: “Of course it has an impact on him. You can be sure of what I will say now: Neymar will be the best player of the next World Cup.

“All of the big critics he suffered during the last World Cup, you know, he became a global ‘meme’, perhaps he never thought it would be possible to happen to him. I’ve talked to him since – he’s a smart boy, well, he’s not a boy anymore, he’s a man. I’m sure all of that will make him even better at the next World Cup.”

Following the World Cup, Neymar personally admitted that he had overreacted whenever he made contact with an opposition player and would try to improve on this facet of the game. Meanwhile, the former Barcelona star has made a strong start since returning to league action with Paris Saint-Germain this season and he has already contributed 11 goals and four assists from just 11 matches across all competitions.

His efforts have partly helped Paris Saint-Germain in their winning start to the league season and they most recently created history after becoming the first French top-flight team to begin the campaign with nine straight victories. Their path in the Champions League, however, remains tricky after accumulating just three points from their opening two group stage games. Paris Saint-Germain’s only setback of the season has come in the competition where they suffered a 3-2 away defeat to Liverpool.

Leave a Reply