Neymar Wins 2014 Samba d’Or as Best Brazilian Player in Europe
Brazilian forward Neymar has been crowned the winner of the 2014 Samba d’Or, an annual award recognising the best Brazilian footballer playing in Europe. The FC Barcelona star topped the voting with 29.20%, ending the three-year reign of Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva.
Now in its seventh edition, the Samba d’Or is awarded based on votes from the public, journalists, and former Brazilian internationals. This year, nearly 180,000 online votes were cast, with Neymar emerging as the clear favourite following a strong calendar year with both club and country.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a standout 2014, playing a crucial role in Barcelona’s attacking line-up and carrying Brazil during the early stages of the FIFA World Cup on home soil before a back injury cut his tournament short.
Neymar becomes the first Barcelona player to win the award since its inception in 2008. Previous winners include Kaká, Luis Fabiano, Maicon, and Thiago Silva, who had held the title from 2011 to 2013.
Rounding out the top five for the 2014 edition were Atlético Madrid defender Miranda (16.39%), Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo (16.01%), Chelsea’s Willian (8.86%), and Lucas Moura of PSG (4.47%).
The Samba d’Or continues to serve as a measure of Brazilian excellence abroad, celebrating those who uphold the nation’s rich footballing tradition across Europe’s top leagues.
