Football
Ricardo Zanei, ESPN Brasil 7y

Why nobody outshines the sublime Neymar in Brazil

Brazil is the land of football, and Neymar is the best player in the land of football.

For the second consecutive year, the Brazil and Barcelona star is high among the world's most famous players in ESPN's World Fame 100 rankings. In 2016, Neymar occupied the fourth position. This year, he is ranked No. 6.

Two spots lower? That's hard to figure, because it appears that Neymar's star is on the rise and that his reign will be a long one.

His accomplishments at Barcelona are undeniable. Alongside the similarly famous Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, he helps form one of the most formidable offensive lines in football history.

And how about with the Brazil national team? Well, Neymar is only lacking the World Cup. Even Olympic gold, that long-sought dream of topping the podium, was finally achieved.

Neymar has long been the biggest star in the country's biggest sport, and he's still only 25 years old. The titles, the goals, the skills only serve to bring greater adulation and increase Neymar's profile.

He is the poster boy for a number of brands. Alongside three of his own companies, Neymar's official website shows that he has at least nine sponsors, including companies manufacturing sports equipment, car batteries, mouthwash and headphones.

In addition, there is the Bruna Marquezine factor. Dating the beautiful young actress further boosts Neymar's popularity. Not that he needed it, but there is no question that the couple are an advertising agency's dream: young, popular and successful.

In this larger scenario, being the best player in the land of soccer is a huge deal. ESPN's World Fame numbers do not lie: the 2017 edition has nine Brazilians in the top 100, and seven of them are soccer players.

There are two exceptions, both from individual sports. Both are familiar faces who are now in the twilight of their careers.

At No. 39 is MMA legend Anderson "The Spider" Silva. After the legendary Gracie family, he is perhaps the biggest name in Brazilian MMA history. His generation was largely responsible for the sport's mass popularity in Brazil, breaking down countless barriers and turning a competition surrounded by negative preconceptions into a national obsession.

At 42, Silva is heading toward the end of his career. It has been a spectacularly successful and achievement-laden career, with a touch of drama and some scenes that are best forgotten, but, nonetheless, he is one the greatest sportsmen in Brazilian history.

Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, the other Brazilian on the list at No. 92, has also enjoyed a lengthy career. Massa's career in F1 began in 2002 and continues to this day. He even announced his retirement at the end of last year but soon changed his mind following an enticing offer from Williams.

Maybe too much has been asked of Massa during his career. Competing in the same sport as legendary Brazilian drivers such as Jose Carlos Pace, Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, even Rubens Barrichello, make comparisons unfair and potentially burdensome. But they do not, in any way, take the gloss off the career of one of the greatest Brazilian drivers.

In the land of soccer, there is room for Anderson Silva and Felipe Massa among Neymar, Kaka, Marcelo, David Luiz, Daniel Alves, Thiago Silva and Gabriel Jesus. Here's to their successors!

Ricardo Zanei is ESPN Brazil's digital editorial director based in Sao Paulo.

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