Neymar vs. Gareth Bale: Which Player Will Be Riding Highest in 1 Year's Time?
In January, Neymar stepped on to the Ballon d'Or stage for the first time. Injury worries aside, the challenge for the rest of world football's stars across the next decade will be getting him off it.
After Barcelona signed Neymar at the start of the summer transfer window in 2013, Real Madrid had to take action. Just as he would be the new No. 2 to Lionel Messi, Los Blancos wanted Gareth Bale as his opposite number, supporting Cristiano Ronaldo.
Having wrestled with Tottenham Hotspur for several weeks, Madrid eventually sealed a deal for the Welsh winger, making his switch the most expensive transfer in history.
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In their first year in Spain, Bale had the advantage. Two-and-a-half years older than Neymar, he was further down the line in his career and accustomed to the demands of top-level football, having played in the Premier League.
On the other hand, Neymar was raw, untested at the highest levels, and it took him a while to adjust to playing against quality teams every week.
Bale ended his first season with two moments that may yet prove to be the highlights of his career—although he will hope not: screaming down Barcelona’s right flank to score the Copa del Rey winner and heading home the goal that sent Madrid ahead in the UEFA Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.
The second year was very different. Injuries plagued him, and he still couldn’t adapt to the technical demands of Carlo Ancelotti’s football. Meanwhile, in Catalonia, Neymar was improving with every game he played.
Even in his first match of the season, his understanding with Messi looked better than in any game before that. Barcelona eventually won the treble, driven by Neymar’s goals and those of the other two forwards, Messi and Luis Suarez.
And things have not changed too much this season, with Barcelona steaming forward on three fronts, while the only thing Real Madrid have left to play for is the Champions League.
Thus, asking the question about which player will be riding highest in a year might raise a few eyebrows. It’s got to be Neymar, right?
But there are plenty of reasons why Bale could go on to have an excellent year, even if he can’t catch up with Neymar. Few can.
Of course it’s possible; Barcelona demonstrated that by winning the treble the year after they didn’t manage to put a single major pot on the table. Things can change quickly in football.
Bale’s form this season has arguably been the best of his time in Madrid. Injuries, as ever, have held him back, but when he’s been on the pitch, his performances have been strong.
He has 16 goals and 10 assists this season, although a criticism is that, like his team-mates, he hasn’t been able to score in the biggest games.
Bale went on a brilliant streak over Christmas, arguably his team's man of the match in four games running—against Rayo Vallecano, where he scored four, Real Sociedad, Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna, against whom he bagged a hat-trick.
The most important factor in a potential improvement for Bale is what will happen to Ronaldo.
These two don’t always click on the pitch, and it’s well-documented that they aren’t particularly good pals off it. If Ronaldo leaves the club, then Bale will become Real Madrid’s main man. If the team is built around him, he will have the conditions to thrive.
Italian newspaper Il Corriere dello Sport (h/t Diario Sport) has linked Ronaldo to Paris Saint-Germain, who will need to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer.
The report also claims the French side would also like to sign Barcelona's Neymar, but that will be very difficult to achieve. Ronaldo leaving is more probable.
According to Matt Law of the Telegraph, Real Madrid want to raise Bale’s wage and extend his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Law wrote: "Real are willing to increase Bale’s £300,000-a-week salary and underline his position as the club’s number one star ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose future remains the subject of great debate."
If Ronaldo left and Bale signed a new deal, he would be well-positioned to surge forward and lead Madrid next season. The biggest issue would be physical problems, though.
According to Transfermarkt statistics, Bale has suffered 10 injuries since arriving in Spain.
Neymar has had eight, per the same source, which is also quite a lot. However, the Brazilian has missed just 13 games this season and last term thanks to his problems. Bale has missed 19.
Where Neymar has a clear advantage is in the quality of the players around him.
Barcelona's team is set up to allow the front three as many opportunities as possible to get on the ball and cause damage. Real Madrid's team is less structured, and it's hard to pinpoint the exact way Zinedine Zidane wants them to play, apart from "well."
Saying Neymar thrives because of the players around him is not to take anything away from the Brazilian. The only reason he, Messi and Suarez have their platform is because they have proved they merit it.
Barcelona's forward has 27 goals this season and 18 assists, beating Bale on both figures. He is comfortable, clearly happy and now at home in Spain, whereas the Wales international still can’t speak the language.
There are no signs that Neymar will not keep developing and growing as a player. He has no problem scoring in big games, and becoming more consistent is his next target.
Given their performances this season, it would be unfair to doubt Barcelona's motivation and determination to keep winning, although another year without winning the league will sting Real Madrid.
Another potential advantage Bale could have on Neymar could concern the Barcelona man’s fitness. Brazil play at the Copa America in June and then the Olympic Games in August, leaving little time for Neymar to have a break and proper pre-season, if he features in both, as he wants to do.
However, there is the chance he will just play in the Olympics and sit out the Copa.
Per Sport, Neymar said: "Normally, what happens is up to the player, but in this case it is different, because it doesn't depend on me, it depends on the coaches. Dunga and Luis Enrique are talking and we will see what happens."
If he arrives at the start of the season tired, then it will be a chance for Bale to make ground on him and, at the same time, perhaps even a chance for Madrid to get off to a good start against Barcelona.
Then again, Neymar is extremely careful with his fitness, going as far as to have two dedicated personal coaches working for him.
The truth is it’s hard to see Bale matching up to Neymar in the year ahead, but if certain factors go the Welshman’s way, he can take giant leaps forward. Bale turns 27 in the summer, hitting his prime as a player. He will be desperate to capitalise.
