As Neymar prepares for his competitive Barcelona
debut on Sunday, much of the focus is on the way in which he will
dovetail with Lionel Messi. Having been the undisputed star at Santos, a
shining light during the FIFA Confederations Cup and feted for years as
world football’s hottest property, this is a young man unaccustomed to
playing second fiddle.
Yet Messi’s is not the only shadow beneath which Neymar will make his Barça
bow. He has, after all, joined a club at which Brazilians have a
history of excelling. Indeed, barely had the 21-year-old been unveiled
at the Camp Nou than he was fielding questions on whether he could
follow where one of his star countrymen, Ronaldinho, had spectacularly led.
"No-one can compare to Ronaldinho,”
was his response. “I remember his plays, his dribbles. I remember him
winning every title at the Camp Nou. He made history at Barça, he made history with Brazil, and he’s still making history. In my case, I’m just starting to make history.”
He might have played down comparisons, but Neymar had no hesitation in naming Ronaldinho among three players he will draw most inspiration from as he begins his Spanish adventure. The others? Romario and Rivaldo. With Ronaldo an obvious addition to that list, and Evaristo de Macedo having electrified in the Blaugrana jersey during the 1950s, Barça’s new boy is not short of outstanding examples to follow. FIFA.com looks closer.
Evaristo de Macedo (1957-62)
Barcelona's first Brazilian superstar, Evaristo was an inspirational figure in the side that won two successive Spanish titles and two Fairs Cups during the late 1950s. Blessed with tremendous close control and a ferocious shot with either foot, the athletic forward boasted an impressive goals-per-game average of 0.8 during his five-year stint at the club. He also earned renown throughout the continent for scoring the goal in 1960 that knocked Real Madrid out of the European Cup for the first time – only to break Catalan hearts by signing for Barça’s great rivals two years later.
Appearances: 226
Goals: 178
Major trophies: 5
Romario (1993-95)
"The best player I have coached? It has to be Romario. You could expect anything from him. His technique was extraordinary. And he scored goals in every possible manner.” This was the tribute paid by Johan Cruyff to a Brazilian striker that, to the Dutchman at least, was the jewel in the crown of his fabled ‘Dream Team’. In season 1993/94, ahead of starring for Brazil at the FIFA World Cup™, Romario enjoyed a spectacular campaign, scoring 30 times in 33 La Liga appearances to inspire Barça to the title. He would last just one more season at the Camp Nou, but left a hero.
Appearances: 82
Goals: 53
Major trophies: 1
Ronaldo (1996-97)
Like Romario, Ronaldo arrived at Barcelona from PSV, and his stay in Catalonia proved to be even shorter than his Brazilian predecessor’s. Yet while he spent just one season at the club, what a season it was. This was Ronaldo before injuries hit: a near-perfect blend of lightning speed, fantastic skill and awesome physical power. In the league alone, he scored 34 times in 37 appearances for Barça and, at 20, became the youngest-ever recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Appearances: 51
Goals: 47
Major trophies: 2
Rivaldo (1997-2002)
Bought as a direct replacement for the departing Ronaldo, Rivaldo was in fact a very different kind of player. Yet although Barcelona found themselves with an attacking-midfield playmaker rather than a classic No9, they were far from disappointed in their investment. Rivaldo became a firm fans’ favourite during his five seasons at the club, and his goalscoring record belied his deep-lying role, with set-pieces and spectacular strikes making up a large percentage of his impressive final tally.
Appearances: 253
Goals: 136
Major trophies: 3
Ronaldinho (2003-08)
Barcelona were without a trophy in four years and firmly in the shadow of Real Madrid’s Galactico project when Ronaldinho arrived in the summer of 2003. Slowly but surely, the Brazilian’s outrageous talent and infectious smile brought about a change in mood and, latterly, a change in fortunes at the Camp Nou. Within two seasons, Barça were European champions for only the second time in their history and Ronaldinho was on his way to collecting a second successive FIFA World Player of the Year award, having firmly established himself as the game’s foremost talent.
Appearances: 250
Goals: 110
Major trophies: 3
Barcelona's first Brazilian superstar, Evaristo was an inspirational figure in the side that won two successive Spanish titles and two Fairs Cups during the late 1950s. Blessed with tremendous close control and a ferocious shot with either foot, the athletic forward boasted an impressive goals-per-game average of 0.8 during his five-year stint at the club. He also earned renown throughout the continent for scoring the goal in 1960 that knocked Real Madrid out of the European Cup for the first time – only to break Catalan hearts by signing for Barça’s great rivals two years later.
Appearances: 226
Goals: 178
Major trophies: 5
Romario (1993-95)
"The best player I have coached? It has to be Romario. You could expect anything from him. His technique was extraordinary. And he scored goals in every possible manner.” This was the tribute paid by Johan Cruyff to a Brazilian striker that, to the Dutchman at least, was the jewel in the crown of his fabled ‘Dream Team’. In season 1993/94, ahead of starring for Brazil at the FIFA World Cup™, Romario enjoyed a spectacular campaign, scoring 30 times in 33 La Liga appearances to inspire Barça to the title. He would last just one more season at the Camp Nou, but left a hero.
Appearances: 82
Goals: 53
Major trophies: 1
Ronaldo (1996-97)
Like Romario, Ronaldo arrived at Barcelona from PSV, and his stay in Catalonia proved to be even shorter than his Brazilian predecessor’s. Yet while he spent just one season at the club, what a season it was. This was Ronaldo before injuries hit: a near-perfect blend of lightning speed, fantastic skill and awesome physical power. In the league alone, he scored 34 times in 37 appearances for Barça and, at 20, became the youngest-ever recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Appearances: 51
Goals: 47
Major trophies: 2
Rivaldo (1997-2002)
Bought as a direct replacement for the departing Ronaldo, Rivaldo was in fact a very different kind of player. Yet although Barcelona found themselves with an attacking-midfield playmaker rather than a classic No9, they were far from disappointed in their investment. Rivaldo became a firm fans’ favourite during his five seasons at the club, and his goalscoring record belied his deep-lying role, with set-pieces and spectacular strikes making up a large percentage of his impressive final tally.
Appearances: 253
Goals: 136
Major trophies: 3
Ronaldinho (2003-08)
Barcelona were without a trophy in four years and firmly in the shadow of Real Madrid’s Galactico project when Ronaldinho arrived in the summer of 2003. Slowly but surely, the Brazilian’s outrageous talent and infectious smile brought about a change in mood and, latterly, a change in fortunes at the Camp Nou. Within two seasons, Barça were European champions for only the second time in their history and Ronaldinho was on his way to collecting a second successive FIFA World Player of the Year award, having firmly established himself as the game’s foremost talent.
Appearances: 250
Goals: 110
Major trophies: 3
via FIFA.com
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