Neymar's Vow to Keep His Style Needs to Be Backed by Spanish Football

"I'll probably have a scar for life," joked Neymar, referring to the healing gash above his right eyebrow, while speaking at an event arranged by Panasonic.

It's good that he can make light of his injury, but the subject is no laughing matter. A line has to be drawn somewhere before he gets seriously hurt.

You have probably seen the grisly images of blood streaming down Neymar's face after an industrial challenge—to put it mildly—from Bolivia forward Yasmani Duk during Brazil's 5-0 World Cup qualifying victory on October 6.

The incident occurred when the Barcelona man tried to nutmeg Duk, who was not having any of it. As well as blocking the ball, he swiped out with his right arm, catching Neymar flush in the face, with bloody consequences.

Leo Correa/Associated Press/Associated Press

This was just the latest in a string of violent attempts to shackle Neymar, many of which have little to do with trying to get the ball off him.

Neymar’s crime? To play the game the way he sees it.

Duk's response to the incident when asked about it after the game was quite incredible.

The player scolded Neymar for being a show-off and told him to show more respect to those he faced. Per Sport he said:

"

To be the best player in the world, Neymar should stop being a show-off and respect his opponents.

Neymar came over-running everyone in the game, but my intention was only to stop his move, like it should be in football.

Everyone knows the sport is like this, I never said anything when someone broke my nose. 

Football's a contact sport, I tried to get the ball because I read the play, he tried to nutmeg me and I opened my arm. I didn't know I was elbowing him, it was not maliciously intended but unfortunately it went like this. 

"

Words that would be easier to believe had they come from a player who hadn’t previously been banned for several months for attacking a referee.

It’s not like Neymar tries a nutmeg simply to taunt his opponent, it’s because he sees that as the easiest way to get past them.

And even if the Brazilian responded to the kicks and elbows with more flicks and tricks, what is a more acceptable form of retaliation? Harmless trickery or real, brutal assaults?

Michael Probst/Associated Press

To his credit, Neymar insists he will not change the way he plays, regardless of how many people feel provoked by it. 

Per Sport, he said: "I am not going to change, of course I won’t change. People have to know that when you go on the pitch I have my way of playing and my way of playing is this, to dribble, to score goals, to help my teammates and I’m happy playing this way. 

“If people aren’t, there’s nothing I can do. In football you give elbows and kicks, but not everyone can dribble. I won’t change my way of playing."

But why is the violence against one of the game’s most beautiful players so widely accepted? 

It is partly due to an ugly but human nature to want to see someone outstanding cut down to everyone else’s level.

Partly because in Spain the media is so polarised that the Madrid-based elements cannot possibly side with Neymar and instead blame the victim for daring to have the temerity to use the skills he spent hundreds of hours practising to make it this far.

However, we recently saw what happens when a player is pushed too far.

Gerard Pique was so fed up with the nonsense spouted about him in the media and by some Spain fans that he recently declared he would be retiring from international duty after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Although the Duk incident happened during international football, it’s possible to see Neymar leaving Spain in the future if rough treatment—and little sympathy—continues over the coming months and seasons.

That’s if he’s not forced out of the game by a challenge that goes too far and ends up damaging him irreparably.

The Premier League is generally more physical than the Spanish league, but it’s hard to imagine the same level—and what a low level it is—of debate being started about whether Neymar’s tricks are disrespectful if he played there, because there is less incentive to demonise him.

NELSON ALMEIDA/Getty Images

The Catalan media, including Sport, say there is a campaign against Neymar, and as melodramatic as that sounds, they have a point. 

Juan Manuel Diaz noted it after Barcelona’s 5-1 thrashing of Leganes, where the main topic pundits wanted to talk about was whether Neymar’s behaviour was appropriate or not after Lluis Sastre kicked out at him.  

He was also surprised and upset that Michael Laudrup was one of the critical voices. The former Barcelona player was considered one of the most skilful players of his era. Diaz wrote: 

"

Michael Laudrup became an instrument in the case, talking about the "provocations" of Neymar against Leganes, justifying a new campaign against the Brazilian. Is Neymar a provoker? For Laudrup, yes. The Dane lit up social media with his commentary on beIN Sports and the Madrid media artillery joined the party rapidly. 

What's surprising is not that an ex-footballer is involved, but that a player like Laudrup who gave assists like "Magic" Johnson and had his signature two-footed shimmy dribble, is the one to question a player of such talent.

Neymar's "jogo bonito" is more than just flicks and tricks, as shown against Celtic when he scored one and got four assists. Kicks, takedowns, grabs, elbows.... Leganes defenders decided that was part of their job. Weapons necessary to stop Neymar beating them one on one, for his speed and technical quality on the ball.

"

Natacha Pisarenko/Associated Press

At least Neymar has some defence. Former Barcelona and Argentina star Diego Maradona, a similarly entertaining player on the pitch, told Marca (h/t Sport): “I like watching Neymar because despite getting kicked 200 times he always continues to dribble at opponents.”

While coach Luis Enrique has changed his tune. Despite seeming to join in the criticism after the 2015 Copa del Rey final, when Neymar upset half of Athletic Bilbao’s team, Neymar’s manager has started to defend his star at every opportunity.

With a new Barcelona contract agreed—albeit not yet officially signed—Neymar’s intention is to stay for a long time at the club. That is a huge boost for Spanish football, who boast the most exciting player in the game, and they need to start viewing it as such.

Rik Sharma is Bleacher Report's lead Barcelona correspondent. All information and quotes obtained firsthand unless specified. Follow him on Twitter here: @riksharma_.