Troubled year of Brazil star Neymar

Paris (AFP) – A reoccurrence of an injury, two separate suspensions for insulting a referee and hitting a fan, losing Brazil’s captaincy and now an accusation of rape, the world’s most expensive player had a season to forget for club and country, on and off the field.

Here AFP reflects on Neymar’s difficult season starting with the World Cup in Brazil which could end up with a Copa America title on home soil:

– Back for Brazil –

After more than three months sidelined with a foot problem his 69th minute goal guides Brazil to a 2-0 World Cup warm-up friendly victory over eventual champions Croatia on June 3.

– ‘Pathetic diving’ –

Despite scoring once and claiming an assist as the Selecao qualified for the last-16 his World Cup group stage is marred by his “pathetic” diving as former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel told Russian broadcaster RT.

– Bows out to boos –

Brazil are knocked out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals to Belgium on July 6. He’s the victim of boos from a home crowd watching on a big screen in Rio every time he rolls on the ground, becoming an internet joke for his theatrical efforts.

– Depression –

“I wouldn’t go as far as to say I didn’t want to play again but, I didn’t want to see a ball, or to see any more football played,” the 27-year-old told AFP on July 22 after the disappointment in Russia.

– ‘Sensational’ –

He scores a hat-trick in a 6-1 thumping of Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League group stages two months into the club season on October 3 described as ‘sensational’ by head coach Thomas Tuchel.

– Ballon d’Or blip –

He fails to make the top 10 of the shortlist for the first time since 2013 finishing in 12th place as Croatia’s World Cup winning-midfielder Luka Modric takes the award in a ceremony held in the Brazilians’s adopted home city Paris on December 3.

– Same foot, same injury –

With less than half an hour to play and PSG leading Strasbourg 1-0 on January 23 in the second round of the French Cup he limps off the Parc de Princes field with a similar foot injury to the one he suffered 13 months earlier. His return date is set for the Champions League quarter-finals but the Parisians have to face a resurgent Manchester United with new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the last 16 before then.

from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2W9cg2o