Author: Barkha Roy
Voting for the 15th edition of the prestigious Golden Samba Award is officially open, inviting the public to vote for the best Brazilian players of the year in various categories, including men’s, women’s and U23. This year’s most anticipated question is who will succeed Neymar, the five-time winner of the trophy, as the best Brazilian male player of the year.
Neymar’s journey in 2023 involved a total of 16 matches, from the conclusion of the 2022/2023 season with PSG to the start of the 2023/2024 season with his new club, Al-Hilal. However, he was still nominated for the award. His performance was not without its challenges, mainly due to muscle problems that kept him out for most of the latter part of the season with PSG. However, his move to Al-Hilal seems to have revitalized him, allowing him to return to the field with renewed vigour.
This year, Neymar won an important title, his fifth Ligue 1 championship with PSG. His contributions to the Brazilian national team in the World Cup qualifiers, where he returned in September, were fundamental. Neymar made a significant impact in the first two qualifiers, further solidifying his legacy by becoming Brazil’s all-time leading scorer in international matches, overtaking the legendary Pelé. In the first qualifier against Bolivia, Neymar put in a remarkable performance with two goals and an assist, followed by another significant contribution in the match against Peru, when he provided the decisive assist for the only goal of the game.
On the other hand, among the contenders in the men’s category of the Samba Gold Awards, we find the talented midfielder Casemiro, who currently represents Manchester United and the Brazilian national team.
In 2023, Casemiro showed impressive consistency, taking part in a total of 45 matches during the transition from the 2022/2023 season to the start of the 2023/2024 season. His appearances were divided between Manchester United and the Brazilian national team.
Casemiro’s journey included an impressive appearance in the Europa League during the previous season, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Sevilla. He also led Manchester United to the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals. Although he was beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup final, he celebrated the win against Newcastle in the EFL Cup final. In addition, Manchester United secured third place in the Premier League during Casemiro’s first season at the club.
Casemiro’s outstanding achievement during the 2022/2023 season was his key role in securing the EFL Cup for Manchester United, a significant personal milestone. Despite performing at a high level during the FA Cup final, his efforts were not enough to deliver the title to Manchester United in a very tight match against Manchester City. The competition for the 15th Golden Samba Award is intense, with Neymar and Casemiro showcasing their talents and making strong arguments for the prestigious title. The winner will be revealed at the end of the year, and public votes will undoubtedly play a crucial role in determining the winner of this coveted prize.