Neymar Must Support Lionel Messi Like Gareth Bale Does Cristiano Ronaldo

Neymar had a reasonable first season at Barcelona, but the Brazilian will be looking to improve this season.

When compared to Gareth Bale's first term with Real Madrid, it's clear he still has some way to go, both on an individual and team level.

Bale's arrival at Real took a lot of pressure and attention off of the shoulders of Cristiano Ronaldo, which helped the Portuguese forward to have another good season.

They ended up winning the Copa del Rey and the Champions League, with Bale making key contributions in both games.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

He scored an amazing individual goal against Barcelona in the cup final, while his header helped turn the tide against Atletico Madrid as Real completed La Decima in Lisbon.

Luis Enrique, speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of his side's clash against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, praised Neymar but said that he was not yet one of the best players in the world.

Trying to get more out of the Brazilian, Enrique said: "He's a special player, subject to a huge pressure in his country and his club, and I hope he can work hard and turn into one of the best in the world."

Neymar was held back last season by various injuries and ailments and will hope that he has more luck in the new campaign.

Things began well for him, when his strike against Atletico Madrid turned out to be the goal that won Barcelona the trophy.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

In La Liga, things were not as rosy, with the Brazilian having to work hard for his place in the team under Tata Martino.

In fact, it was only when Lionel Messi picked up an injury that he really started to come into his own, as the focus of the team.

There were a few standout performances, like when he scored a hat-trick against Celtic in the Champions League.

He bagged 15 goals in 40 games, which is not a bad return in the first season after he arrived from Santos in the Brazilian league, a division distinctly less competitive than La Liga.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The last few months of the season were not particularly positive for Neymar, who struggled when he was used out of position on the right flank.

There was one moment that was a hair's breadth away from being perfect, when he hit the post late on against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

Had the ball found the back of the net, it could have kick-started his career at Barcelona, but it remains a what-could-have-been moment.

Bale, on the other hand, was doing well for Real Madrid in general but also lacked a huge decisive moment.

However, along came the aforementioned two goals that made him an instant hero in the Spanish capital.

The Welshman works well with Cristiano Ronaldo, the two players forming a dual-pronged attack of pace and power against their opponents that is near impossible to defend against.

While Neymar and Messi cannot work in the same way, as they have different positions and different attributes, there is a lesson to be learned.

Ronaldo is Madrid's star name, but Bale in his own quiet way has gone about playing a supporting role, flourishing individually when he gets the opportunity.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Neymar can do the same this term, accepting that Messi is the star of the show and his job is to work for the team. It may even help him to shine himself, removing the pressure from his shoulders.

The way that Messi plays will also help Neymar score plenty of goals himself, with the Argentinian happy to drop off the front and play balls through.

If Neymar can click with Messi, he can also set a good example for Luis Suarez to heed when the Uruguayan is eligible to play in October.