During the summer of 2013, Neymar was the hottest player in the transfer market and every big European club wanted to sign him, but the Brazilian chose Spain and FC Barcelona.

He was yet to play a single game with the Catalan club but was already the main target of numerous criticisms from a lot of people. He was referred to as “only a YouTube player,” meaning his particular brand of tricks were only good for a two-minute video.

Some said he wouldn’t withstand the physical play of European football, as if he wasn’t getting kicked a thousand times per game in the Brazilian league.

Others relished stating the obvious while at the same time hoping for a negative outcome: Neymar would have to prove himself in Europe. These people chose to forget that Neymar had already crushed the likes of Spain, Italy and Uruguay -- teams made up of players who played in the best European leagues -- in the 2013 Confederations Cup with the Brazilian national team.

Some people (mainly Madrid’s press) wanted to ignite a fire where there wasn’t one and started writing articles about how Neymar and Messi wouldn’t get along. Even Barça’s own Johan Cruyff had his doubts about the partnership. But in the end we all know how that turned out: Ney and Leo have a great relationship on and off the pitch and get along great. The Brazilian has accepted his role as Barça’s No. 2 guy behind Messi without any problems at all.

To add to all the pessimism, some predicted that he would be the next Robinho, meaning that he would eventually become a flop in Europe and never fulfill all his potential.

Fast-forward to Neymar’s first official game wearing the Barcelona shirt: against Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón in the first leg of the 2013 Spanish Super Cup. He came off the bench and found himself in a pretty harsh situation. Messi had been subbed off in the first half due to a thigh injury on his left leg and Barcelona was losing 1-0 thanks to a marvelous goal by David Villa.

The entire stadium was roaring and cheering for Atleti, but Neymar came in and silenced the entire crowd with his first blaugrana goal. Dani Alves delivered a perfect cross to the far post and Neymar came in flying to deliver a perfect header that beat Thibaut Courtois, tying the game and giving Barcelona the precious away goal that would eventually be enough to win the Spanish Super Cup. The situation didn’t faze him at all and he ended up delivering in a key moment, showing that he was a player that showed up when it mattered.

Fast-forward again to October 2013: Neymar’s first Clásico against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in front of 90 plus thousand fans in attendance. In the first half of the match, Andrés Iniesta delivered a perfect pass to him and Neymar hooked Carvajal and quickly got a shot off with the inside of his right foot to beat Diego López for the opening goal of the match. As simple as that. Neymar got his first goal against Real Madrid in the blink of an eye. Again as against Atleti, the opponent didn’t faze him. The situation didn’t faze him.

And if that wasn’t enough, skip to the second half of the match, when he played Alexis Sánchez through so that the Chilean could score one of the prettiest goals in El Clásico history. Just like that, Neymar had scored and assisted in his first match against Madrid.

Then, on November 10, 2013, Messi suffered a femoral biceps injury in his left leg that would keep him out of action for two months. This was Neymar’s first stint without Messi and a good opportunity to show that he could carry the team when Barcelona’s No. 10 wasn't available. He played five games -- Granada, Ajax, Athletic, Celta, Villarreal -- as a starter during this phase, scored five goals and gave two assists. It was a quick preview of what he was capable of in such a short time with the club.

Now we fast-forward to the first leg of the 2013/14 Champions League quarterfinals at the Camp Nou against Atlético Madrid. Barcelona found themselves down 0-1 thanks to a ridiculous wonder goal by Diego Ribas during the second half of the match. Tata Martino’s team looked plain, without ideas and you never felt that they were going to be able to knock down Atlético Madrid’s incredible defense.

Well, that was until Iniesta delivered an exquisite through ball to Neymar and the Brazilian put it in the back of the net with a marvelous first touch shot toward the far post. Courtois barely even saw the ball due to its sheer velocity and just like that Barcelona, via Neymar, tied the game and the leg.

Unfortunately that wasn’t enough and Barcelona ended up being eliminated by Atlético over the two legs, but Neymar kept showing that he was a big-time player and that the pressure during the big games didn't rattle him at all.

And let’s not forget that before the quarterfinals, Neymar gave a key assist to Dani Alves at the Etihad stadium against Manchester City in the first leg of the round of 16 that led to Barcelona winning 0-2 at Manchester and basically sentenced the tie.

In the second Clásico of La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu, Neymar was involved in the crucial play of the game. He received a perfect pass from Messi but was brought down by Sergio Ramos inside the penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty kick to Barcelona and sent Ramos off. This play completely changed the game and once again showed that Neymar appears in big games and makes a difference, whether it is with a goal, an assist, or a key play.

All in all, we can conclude that Neymar, during his first season with F.C Barcelona, showed that ‘it’ factor that separates good players from great ones. He showed glimpses of a future Ballon d’Or winner (when Messi retires or decides to step it down a notch).

Some players are born with a God-given talent, while others have to train twice as hard to achieve things. Neymar is in the first category. Sure, he, like every elite footballer, trains hard, but to that you have to add his enormous star talent. It’s not easy to deliver so many good performances in difficult games at the age of 22. Sadly for him, and for Barça, the blaugranas ended the season without any of the three major trophies.

The difference between winning everything or losing everything is in the tiniest details. Just ask Neymar about that moment in the dying minutes of the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid when he was left alone, one-on-one, against Iker Casillas.

The Brazilian shot the ball, hit the post, with what could’ve been the game-tying goal, and the rebound ended up going right to Iker’s hands. Some things just aren’t meant to be and Barcelona weren’t meant to win anything in the 2013/14 season.