I love soccer.  I generally refer to it as futebol and chide my friends (I live in the heart of Jets and Giants territory) that I follow the sport where they actually touch the ball with their feet.  :-)

Anyway, most of you – most everyone – knows the name Pele.  The greatest soccer player of all time with an amazing life story, even more so after becoming “Pele”.  Since the first Pele so many have been the “next” one.  Fact is, there have been some amazing “historical” players, and two of them have been Brasilian as well – Ronoldo and Ronoladinho.  But, there’s also Christiano Ronoldo, and Messi, my goodness, Messi is amazing.

Just my opinion, and as good as the others have been (and they have been amazing), Messi is in a league by himself.  Until very recently.

If you’ve not seen Neymar, or even if you have, this highlight reel is a must.  If you have any appreciation for the sport, watch this young man (born in 1992!).

And please don’t think everyone can play like this.  Watch how he manipulates the ball and the opposing player.  Watch how many defenders he leaves in the dust.  What how he handles the ball with his feet.  Only a few people have ever show the kind of grace of play Neymar has, especially at 19.  There is no doubt he is one of the greatest living players.  THE greatest?  [Shrug} Time will tell, but its going to be an amazing and entertaining ride.

This is why it is called the beautiful sport.