Breaking Down Neymar's Improvement at Barcelona from Last Season

FC Barcelona dominated world football news two summers ago when it was announced that the Catalan giants had signed Brazilian phenomenon Neymar. The unthinkable pairing of Neymar and Lionel Messi had finally come and there were lofty expectations.

However, in Neymar’s first season at the Camp Nou, he didn’t quite live up to the hype that had been surrounding him for several years. The Brazilian struggled to find his rhythm in the system in his first season, but what a difference a year can make.

Now in his second year at Barcelona, Neymar looks to be every bit the player that he was hyped to be. So what happened to allow him to realize his potential after a rough first season? Let’s break it down.

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To begin with, it is vitally important to remember that Neymar had a steep learning curve to endure with his switch to Europe.

Football is played much differently in Europe than in South America, and learning the Barcelona system can be challenging for any player. Neymar was forced to discover an entire new footballing culture and identity, so it makes sense that he would struggle at first.

Not only was Neymar having to learn a new way of football, however, he also had to realize that he was no longer the undisputed leader of his team.

Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and others had already been the faces of Barcelona for many years when Neymar arrived, and the Brazilian walked into the locker room on his first day as just another player in the squad. For someone who is so used to being a leader and a standout performer, that is an odd thing to undergo.

But the learning curve did not stop there for Neymar. Lastly, as he was learning a new system and how to just be another contributor in the team, he was also playing against some of the toughest opposition he had ever seen.

All three of these issues certainly played into a weak first year with the Camp Nou outfit. Those who expected the Brazilian to just walk into the Barcelona first team and steal the show must have forgotten what a transition carries with it.

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Despite all the issues that Neymar had to face in his first season, his pure footballing talent did shine through the fog on occasions.

The Brazilian finished his first campaign with nine goals and eight assists in league play, as well as four goals in the Champions League, according to ESPNFC.com. Those can be seen as solid statistics for a footballer, but they were far from what Barcelona paid for.

As last season carried on, it was obvious that Neymar was growing more comfortable and confident. While at first he was timid to shoot and take on defenders, he eventually showcased the flair and drive that had made him so dangerous at Santos and for the Brazil national team.

The results were still lacking as the season drew to an end, but then again so was the entire form of Barcelona.

This season there has been a vastly significant improvement for Neymar, and Barcelona is all the better because of it. The 22-year-old has already scored 13 goals this season and the campaign is not even halfway finished yet.

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Now in his second year at the Camp Nou, Neymar understands what European football is like, as well as how to play in the Barcelona system. He is past his learning curve and is finally just able to play football.

Fans are now able to watch the real Neymar at Barcelona as he is able to just let his raw ability and high football IQ take over. Grasping a system is often the most important thing for a player, and now the Brazilian has just that.

Yet, there is one more factor at play to understand why Neymar has improved so much compared to last season. He may now understand what it is like to play in Europe, he may also simply be a crazy talented player, but now he knows what his role is within this specific team.

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Last summer’s World Cup was very important for Neymar’s club development. Still just a kid, he was the focal point of Brazil’s team and the unrivaled leader of the squad.

Everyone looked to Neymar to carry and lead the team, and until his injury he did not disappoint. Now he has brought that same leadership quality to his club form.

Neymar is no longer just one of the players like he was when he first arrived at Barcelona. He has finally become a player who can be trusted to lead and make an impact, he has accepted who he is on and off the pitch at FC Barcelona.

Neymar is not the face of Barcelona, that title still belongs to Messi and will for years to come. But the Brazilian is one of the leaders at the Camp Nou and will only continue to improve as a footballer with truly unlimited potential.