Neymar's Quick Start Encouraging for Barcelona and Brazil National Team

Brazil's long national nightmare is over. Neymar scored his first league goal for Barcelona.

The starlet started off the scoring against Real Sociedad when he found the back of the net in the fifth minute. Barca went on to win the match, 4-1.

While it wasn't the prettiest goal Neymar's ever scored, it counts all the same. His teammates were quick to join in with him on the celebration (h/t Telegraph Sport).

Tuesday night continued what has been a nice run of form for the player since he moved to Spain in the summer. Some may look at the loan goal and expect more. Neymar has made sure to contribute in other ways on the pitch (h/t OptaJose).

You have to be encouraged if you're a Barcelona or Brazil fan.

Neymar has plenty of critics who argue that he has looked good only against inferior competition in Brazil and wouldn't be able to handle European football. Or maybe he'd stayed in Brazil too long and wouldn't be able to reach his full potential. There's also the segment of fans who wondered how well Neymar and Lionel Messi would fit into the same team.

Between his performances in the Confederations Cup and La Liga, Neymar has managed to put all of those doubts to rest for the time being.

In terms of the Brazil national team, no player will be more important in the next year or so than the young forward. Off the pitch, he's the face of the 2014 World Cup and symbolizes Brazil's attempt to return to the summit of world football. On the pitch, Neymar is the spark in the attack. His dynamism and creativity are irreplaceable.

Seeing him play well in a top European league is reassuring for Luiz Felipe Scolari. He won't have to worry about his best player coming into the side next summer out of form and failing to handle the weight of expectations.

Neymar will have had a full season in Spain and grown his game in a way he wouldn't have, had he stayed in Brazil until after the World Cup.

Let's not leave out his club side here, either.

For Barcelona, Neymar's there to be a secondary option in the attack and take some pressure off Messi. Barca have been getting a bit stale over the last few seasons. Neymar is the kind of player who can offer a different dimension.

Unlike Real Madrid, Barcelona don't often make a ton of high-profile signings during the summer. So when the club goes and spends €57 million on one player, it better turn out well. Especially when they chose not to spend that money on a centre-back instead.

Through six matches, Barca have a five-point lead on Madrid, with Los Blancos having a game in hand. Some might choose to diminish such a small lead at this early juncture. However, with so little between Barcelona and Real Madrid, dropping any points only five matches into the season can be a big deal in La Liga.

If Neymar keeps playing like this, Barcelona could be looking at a second consecutive Spanish title, and Brazil may just exorcise the ghosts of 1950.