Neymar Comments on Lionel Messi, Barcelona, Club World Cup and More

Neymar says Lionel Messi’s absence through injury earlier this season forced him and the rest of Barcelona’s big names to step up, insisting only a select group of players could rise to such a challenge.

The Brazilian truly did take a giant leap to the forefront of everything good for the Catalan giants, scoring and creating a hatful of goals with partner in crime Luis Suarez.

Yet he insists Barca never believed life without Messi would be easy but that the players simply rose to the challenge, per Globo Esporte, (via Sam Marsden of Goal): "From a young age, I have always taken responsibility. Messi has not been in recent games, but we did not assume that we have enough players to avoid noticing his absence. We all have a responsibility in the team."

Neymar was one of many Barca stars who emphatically took on the responsibility of being without the best player in the world, but he stated it takes a different breed of footballer to be able to stand up and be counted: "Playing for Barcelona is not the same as being at another club. It is difficult to adjust. Not anyone can do it. I think that, since January, I’ve had a good year."

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

A good year is something of an understatement from Neymar, however, and he’s scored 14 league goals and chalked up five assists this season, per WhoScored.com, and he has undoubtedly come of age. Here are a few highlights from the forward's "good" year:

Team spirit could well be behind the 23-year-old’s emphatic form too, as he said the players often meet up to bond over food and storytelling: “The team likes to celebrate with barbecues. Every two months we meet after a training session to eat together, tell stories, laugh a little. We get on really well in training. My team-mates are good fun and they have a lot of stories to tell." 

Neymar is sidelined with a groin injury, and his lethal presence was missed in the 2-2 draw with Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. As such, Barcelona must step up in the way the Brazilian did while Messi was on the treatment table.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Still, manager Luis Enrique believes his side have enough talent to do exactly that, as they just need to adjust once again, relayed by Matthew Rogerson of Goal: “It's hard to compare players like Neymar with others but we have to find other solutions and make his absence noted as little as possible. It's a question of looking through a global prism and adapting to his absence.”

The adaptation task continues in the forthcoming Club World Cup, as Barcelona take on Asian Champions League winners Guangzhou Evergrande in the semi-finals in Japan on Thursday.

Neymar says his team-mates are keen to get the job done and continue winning silverware: “The good thing about our team is that everyone likes winning and always wants to win and improve.”

Winning the Club World Cup always looks a sure thing for the Champions League winners, but Barcelona will need to be at their best to be holding the trophy aloft come Sunday.

Neymar’s absence will certainly make that a little more difficult, yet Enrique’s men have more than enough at their disposal to cross the line. And when their prodigious frontman returns, they'll be better equipped to reap Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League glory once more.