Being a Brazilian soccer player has its advantages.

The country has a history and legacy of soccer greatness that automatically paints you in a positive light. But that history also comes with its great pressure and expectations. To be truly considered amongst the best Brazilians, you have to deliver like the best Brazilians. Just ask Kaka. The former Ballon d'Or winner was seen as the next big thing when he headed to South Africa as El Selecao's top star. But the then-Real Madrid property crumbled under pressure, tainting his legacy among Brazil's elite superstars.

Neymar enters the 2014 World Cup with the same level of expectations. Fortunately, he is still at a young age, 21, where he has room for improvement and can still aspire to win a World Cup with his nation; one might argue that he has at least two or three more tournaments in his prime. However, this will be the biggest World Cup of his career, as he is playing at home.

Brazil has more World Cup medals than any other team in the sport's history, but the nation remains obsessed with the painful Maracanazo in which it lost the final against Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro. That was the first time the nation hosted the tournament, and the failure continues to haunt them to this day. That is the pressure that Neymar has to live with. He is expected to rectify the bad done on that day by heading to the Maracana on July 13 and leading the Samba Kings to a victory over whichever opponent it must face.

Neymar has a host of top players to lead the way, but he has a lot of his own difficulties to contend with. He has been struggling with injury all year long -- an injury that many suspect has led to his woeful season at Barcelona.

While Real Madrid's record signing Gareth Bale scored game-winners for the team in its two big Cup finals, Neymar has gone from hero to zero at Blaugrana. He was seen as major improvement to the team's offense early in the year, but as the season progressed, he became more and more invisible with each passing game. The superstar seemed unsure of his abilities and failed to produce when it mattered most. In the Copa del Rey final, he hit the post on a wide-open net.

Many might state that his form for Brazil has been optimal, but one might be concerned with the superstar's mental state after such a disappointing and arduous campaign. Neymar is also not impervious to booing and jeering from Brazilian fans. Brazilian fans booed Neymar after a poor spell with the team at the end of 2012 and early 2013; he turned things around during the Confederations Cup and has not looked back since.

Neymar has been with the national side since 2010 and has scored 30 goals in just 47 appearances. But he has no major trophies in the case just yet with Brazil. He failed to lead the team to the 2011 Copa America. In the 2012 Summer Olympics, his side was the favorite against meager competition; he was unable to avoid a collapse in the final. Many will point to the Confederations Cup and Golden Ball corresponding to that win. However, Brazil also achieved the feat in 1997, 2005 and 2009. What happened in the following World Cup? Brazil failed to win the title.

Pele, Garrincha, Romario, Ronaldo. All four of these players were major parts of Brazil's success in their respective World Cup titles. Neymar will look to join them this summer with a tournament to remember. The Maracana awaits.

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