Has Neymar entered the Ballon d'Or conversation?

The Brazilian superstar put on a solid run in the recent Olympics, delivering his nation to its first ever Gold Medal. Here are a few reasons to believe that Neymar could be a finalist when push comes to shove.

History

Brazil had won the World Cup five times. It had won the Confederations Cup four times and the Copa America another five times.

The Olympics remained the sore point. People expected Gold at some point and at home it was demanded. And Neymar delivered in dramatic fashion. After two anonymous performances to kick off the campaign, his head was being called for with fans bellowing out Brazil's female legend "Marta" as the real superstar of the tournament.

Neymar refused to talk to the press, instead doing his talking on the pitch with a strong performance that featured four goals in the final three games and the winning penalty to seal the deal for his nation in the last game.

He has now accomplished something in 2016 that neither of his Barcelona teammates, Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez, have done - won a national team trophy.

Silverware

Neymar not only won the history gold medal, but he also won the La Liga and the Copa del Rey with Barcelona. He also had 15 goals to close out the season for his club, a solid feat all things considered. He was crucial in securing a few of those trophies, even if his role and influence was diminished.

Popularity

When all is said and done, this trophy is a popularity contest. Neymar has always been popular and his performance for Brazil saw him rise as a hero against adversity. He might be stepping down as captain but he is beyond reproach. A year after creating one controversy for the national side after another, Neymar has redeemed himself, showing off his greatness and hoisting a legendary trophy for his nation.