Ballon d’Or: Neymar a brilliant 9/1 to break dominance

Though, this rise to wrestle for the mantle of best Barca player with his fellow South American began the season before, as the Brazilian stormed to a sublime finish.

Superb scoring antics

Finally seeming to settle into his surroundings, superstar Neymar was just as crucial in helping the Nou Camp club to another treble. As joint-top scorer alongside both his current Ballon d’Or rivals in the 2014/15 Champions League campaign, the prolific predator deserves just as many plaudits for the danger he poses.

Neymar netted in both semi-final battles versus Bayern Munich, as well as in the final against Juventus, which was a feat not even Messi managed. Add to that some nifty footwork which aided Barca inn the Copa del Rey final, and he similarly racked-up a tremendous 22 in La Liga.

Such superb hauls have not stopped this season either, as Neymar leads a star-studded pack at the top of the Spanish Liga scorer charts on 14, tellingly five ahead of Ronaldo. Are we seeing a changing of the guard?

It’s not just the prolific poaching and outrageous tricks which make Neymar so effective, however, it is also the team play. His 11 assists across all competitions this campaign only tell half the story. So, at just 23, we reckon Neymar, currently outscoring his trophy opponents, is an unmissable at 9/1 to steal the Ballon d’Or away from his older peers.

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