5 similarities between the Messi-Neymar and Ronaldinho-Messi relationship

For the longest time, there have been comparisons made between the old duo of Ronaldinho-Messi and the current rage of the Neymar-Messi partnership at Barcelona. Pictures have flown about on the internet that illustrate the many similarities between the two duos on the surface.There are many differences between them, for example, Ronaldinho assisted Messi’s first goal for Barcelona, while Neymar scored from someone else’s pass for the first time, though the Argentine was crucial in the build-up. That, however, seems more like the exception than the rule since the two formed a deadly partnership between them last season, playing massive roles in Barca’s march to the treble.Few can be faulted for seeing the duo of old in the current team because there have been some incredible similarities in their relationship. It runs deeper than just celebrations or pictures that depict Messi and Neymar in similar pictures as the ones featuring Ronaldinho with the Argentine superstar. 

#1 The Argentina-Brazil connection

This perhaps is a coincidence, but it makes for a good combination. Nonetheless the vital piece of this puzzle is that in the case of all three players involved, at different points, they have been the focal points of their national team.

When Messi broke through at Barcelona, he also found his feet for the Argentina senior national team and has never looked back since. The same has been true for Neymar since his days at Santos. The little difference in this case was that the young Brazilian was taking up the mantle from Ronaldinho who was the spirit of the Brazil national team in the previous years.

It also made for the combination of two different styles of play that are often seen on the opposite sides of the pitch in one of the greatest international football rivalries. Funnily enough they complemented each other to a great extent and continue to do so.

If Barcelona have been looking for someone to follow in Messi’s footsteps in the long term, perhaps it would make their job easier to restrict themselves to Argentina and find a prodigy to link up with Neymar in the future.