Neymar Must Prove He's Worth Contract at Confederation Cup

The Confederation Cup is about to get underway, and Neymar, playing with the defending champion Brazilians, must prove he's worth the contract he signed with Barcelona.

Neymar signed a five-year contract, with a transfer fee of $74 million. With Brazil dropping to a stunning No. 22 in the most recent FIFA rankings, it's up to Neymar, the new golden boy, to lead the team back to the top.

It won't be easy, though. Despite talent in Oscar, Hulk and Lucas Moura, this is a team that has hit rock-bottom. 

The impulse will be to try to do everything, to score five goals and prove he really is the next Brazilian to rule the world.

There's no doubt that Neymar is supremely talented. The forward has 20 goals in 33 career games with the Brazilian National Team. He's an electric winger, with dazzling foot speed, creative passes and explosive finishes.

Still, with the weight of bringing Brazil back to the forefront, especially with the World Cup in Brazil, and with the increased pressure of being the heir to Messi in Barcelona, if Neymar does not deliver, or if he is a passive watcher to a Brazilian triumph, then questions will be rightly raised about whether Neymar is the real deal.

He's only 21, so maybe it's not fair to place the weight of the world on him. But that's what happens when a contract of that magnitude is signed.

And that's what happens when you experience the success that Neymar has, both with Santos and with Brazil.

With the skill Neymar has, he can lead Brazil to a great triumph. But it's impossible to know how he will respond to the pressure. There's a tremendous amount of pressure on a relatively young person.

Not only does Neymar need to prove to Barcelona that he was worth the tremendous amount of money they shelled out to him, he needs to prove to Brazil that the 2014 World Cup won't be a disappointment, that the slip to 22nd in the rankings is just a minor blip and that he will be the one to guide them to success in 2014, in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and beyond.

The Confederation Cup is the first chance for Neymar to prove to Brazil, to Barcelona and to the world that he is capable of making magic on the pitch every night. It's the first chance to prove that he really is the next great Brazilian player. It's the first chance to prove that he's worth the hype and the money.

It's Neymar's time. It starts against Japan, a good defensive team that's allowed just five goals in eight World Cup qualifiers. If he can make some noise, then he will be on his way to laying uncertainty to rest.

If he has a successful tournament, then critics will back off and he'll have a smoother transition to La Liga. But if not, then the world will be on his case, wondering if he's just another overpaid, flashy player.