Neymar must step up as Messi's heir after toughest week

From tax troubles to the injury of Lionel Messi, the Brazilian has endured a nightmare seven days - but now is the time to step up and show he can take on 'La Pulga's' mantle.

BARCELONA -- The Sanchez Pizjuan stadium will be the venue for the end of the most complicated week of Neymar's life. If he can produce his best football in a tricky test against Sevilla, no doubt will remain that Barcelona has found Lionel Messi's heir as team leader and future best player in the world.

After the Argentine's injury on Saturday against Las Palmas, all gazes fixed on his Brazilian colleague Neymar, who, in his third season with the club, is on the cusp of becoming one of the game's greats following two years of solid development after moving to the Camp Nou from Santos. The nimble attacker enjoyed a decent first year adapting to the demands of life at Barca and last season hit 47 decisive goals on the way to the club's sensational treble triumph.

Moreover, his connection with Messi both on and off the pitch is total. However, Neymar has been forced to take on his colleague's leadership role at the worst possible time, with the team suffering a spate of injuries which will prevent coach Luis Enrique from backing Neymar with a first-choice starting lineup. For Neymar, combining with Jeremy Mathieu down the left wing is nothing like having Jordi Alba lining up behind him.



The fans are keen to see the Brazilian take a leading role, though, but, on Tuesday against Bayer Leverkusen, certain sections of the crowd, having grown anxious after the Germans took the lead, even dared to whistle the first glimpse of Neymar's Barcelona, which needed two late goals to take control of Champions League Group E.

If the pressure to please a Camp Nou used to seeing the best in the world for almost a decade was not enough, Neymar has been accused of tax evasion the very same week, with a Brazilian judge freezing assets worth more than 40 million euros ($44.7M).

"If he does not want any more problems he should go to Real Madrid," recommended agent Wagner Ribeiro, just hours before he took the field against Bayer.

On this very day we found out that there will soon be more news concerning his controversial transfer to Barcelona from Santos. Investment fund Teisa have received permission to access new documentation related to the move, after a judge ruled there were signs that the group may have been deceived due to the failure to declare the full amount of money which changed hands.

Just like Messi, the Brazilian has the talent to become a once-in-a-generation player. His ability to detach himself from everything happening around him will confirm him as the Argentine's heir - or not. Against Bayer he could not guide his team, although the points came regardless. In the Pizjuan, against Sevilla, he will line up for his 100th appearance. It will be a definitive test.