Wembley — Primero, la Copa América. Luego el Barcelona. Y ahora México. Las tres veces que se presentó ante el gran público internacional, Neymar defraudó.

Si algo dejó en claro la final del fútbol olímpico, en la que México derrotó 2-1 a Brasil, fue que Neymar está muy verde todavía y que podría ser peligroso apostar las posibilidades de éxito de Brasil en la Copa Mundial al delantero del Santos.

Neymar anotó tres goles y gestó algunos más en un equipo brasileño que arrasó con cuanto rival se le cruzó en el camino en su marcha a la final. Pero en ninguno fue la figura excluyente que muchos esperaban.

La final debía ser su partido. El duelo que lo confirmaría como luminaria internacional destinada a hacer grandes cosas.

Sin embargo, Neymar cayó en el mismo desorden que el resto del equipo tras sufrir un gol apenas iniciado el encuentro y no se repuso.

Quiso sacar el equipo adelante por sí solo y no lo hizo. Pese a que México no le impuso una marca especial, no encontró el lugar en la cancha desde el cual hacer daño. Los mexicanos lo esperaron escalonados y no le permitieron libertades por el flanco izquierdo. Ensayó también por el medio, con el mismo resultado.

Jugó alejado del área rival y las dos veces que tuvo oportunidades de anotar, falló. Al final del primer tiempo sacó un remate desde el borde del área que se fue afuera y en el complemento remató alto desde 15 metros, en una de las mejores ocasiones que tuvo su equipo.

Lo que es más grave, se empecinó en jugadas individuales y no se asoció con nadie durante el encuentro.

Esto tal vez no sea culpa suya exclusivamente. Pero la realidad es que esta es la tercera vez que Neymar decepciona en una gran ocasión, con la conquista de la Copa Libertadores 2011 con Santos como única salvedad. El primer chasco fue en la Copa América de hace un año, en la que Brasil se despidió mansamente en cuartos de final. Y posteriormente, en diciembre, cuando Barcelona goleó al Santos 4-0 en la final del Copa Mundial de clubes.

A la luz de estas experiencias, cabe preguntarse si Neymar está realmente en condiciones de ser el referente que todo el mundo espera en la selección brasileña que jugará en casa el Mundial 2014.

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  • Mexico players celebrate with their gold medals during a ceremony following their win in themen's soccer final against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

  • Mexico's players celebrate on the podium

    Mexico's players celebrate on the podium of the men's football final at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico defeated Brazil 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • London Olympic Games - Day 15

    Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos celebrates victory in the Football Men's Gold Medal Match between Mexico and Brazil at Wembley Stadium, on day 15 of the London 2012 Olympics.

  • London Olympic Games - Day 15

    Mexico's Giovani Dos Santos (5th left) and team-mates during their national anthem as they celebrate victory in the Football Men's Gold Medal Match between Mexico and Brazil at Wembley Stadium, on day 15 of the London 2012 Olympics.

  • South Korea players celebrate with their bronze medals during a ceremony following the men's soccer final between Brazil and Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Olympics Day 15 - Men's Football Final - Brazil v Mexico

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Oscar of Brazil, Neymar of Brazil and Hulk of Brazil look on with their silver medals during the medal ceremony for the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Mexico on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

  • Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C)

    Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C) is carried by Mexico's midfielder Javier Cortes as the players celebrate winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium in London during the London Olympic Games on August 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BERNETTI (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's players celebrate after winning

    Mexico's players celebrate after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil players walk on the field after being defeated by Mexico in the men's soccer final between at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Mexico's forward Marco Fabian celebrates

    Mexico's forward Marco Fabian celebrates after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Olympics Day 15 - Men's Football Final - Brazil v Mexico

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Diego Reyes of Mexico celebrates winning the goal medal after victory in the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Mexico on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

  • Mexico's players celebrate after winning

    Mexico's players celebrate after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each

    Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each other after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's Oribe Peralta reacts during the men's soccer final against Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each

    Brazil's and Mexico's players greet each other after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C)

    Mexico's forward Oribe Peralta (top, C) is carried by Mexico's midfielder Javier Cortes as the players celebrate winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium in London during the London Olympic Games on August 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO / MARTIN BERNETTI (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Mexico's players celebrate after winning

    Mexico's players celebrate after winning the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI (Photo credit should read KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil's Marcelo, left, kicks the ball under pressure from Mexico's Hector Herrera, right, during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

  • Mexico's Carlos Salcido (3) and Jorge Enriquez (14) battle for the ball with Brazil's Hulk (12) during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

  • Brazil's Neymar, center, reacts as Mexico's Israel Jimenez (2) walks by during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's defender Thiago Silva (L) confo

    Brazil's defender Thiago Silva (L) conforts Brazil's defender Marcelo after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Brazil's Neymar reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's forward Neymar reacts after the

    Brazil's forward Neymar reacts after the men's football final match between Brazil and Mexico at Wembley stadium during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 11, 2012 in London. Mexico won 2-1. AFP PHOTO / DANIEL GARCIA (Photo credit should read DANIEL GARCIA/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Olympics Day 15 - Men's Football Final - Brazil v Mexico

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: Neymar of Brazil (L) and Juan Jesus of Brazil show their dejection after the Men's Football Final between Brazil and Mexico on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

  • Mexico's Darvin Chavez, right, Brazil's Hulk, left, battle for possession during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

  • Brazil's Neymar reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's Neymar reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Mexico's Carlos Salcido (3) and Hiram Mier (4) watch Brazil's Neymar (11) fall on the play during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Brazil's Rafael Cabral (1) reacts during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Brazil's Neymar (11) reacts as Mexico's Jorge Enriquez (14) watches during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

  • Mexico's Marco Fabian (8), front, with Brazil's Romulo during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Brazil's Neymar (11) falls during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

  • Brazil's Neymar lies on the ground during the men's soccer final against Mexico at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

  • Brazil's Rafael Cabral attempts to block Mexico's Marco Fabian (8) during the men's soccer final at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

  • Mexico's Oribe Peralta scores during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at the Wembley stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Maya Yoshida, center, vies for the ball with Mexico's Oribe Peralta, left, and Javier Aquino, right, during their semifinal soccer match at Wembley Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

  • Japan's Maya Yoshida, right, heads the ball while Mexico's Raul Jimenez watches during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Yuki Otsu, left, celebrates his goal with teammate Maya Yoshida, right, during their men's soccer semifinal match against Mexico at Wembley Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)

  • Mexico's Hiram Mier, left, heads the ball with Japan's Kensuke Nagai, during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at the Wembley stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Yuki Otsu scores during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Japan's Keigo Higashi, center, vies for the ball with Mexico's Israel Jimenez, right, and Diego Reyes, during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Mexico's Marco Fabian, left, celebrates with his teammate Diego Reyes after scoring during the men's soccer semifinal match between Japan and Mexico at Wembley Stadium, at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

  • Jorge Enriquez

    Mexico's Jorge Enriquez, bottom, celebrates his goal with teammate Mexico's Javier Aquino, top, against Senegal during their quarterfinal men's soccer match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

  • Mexico's Javier Aquino celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the men's soccer quarterfinal match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Mexico's Javier Aquino, bottom right, celebrates with team amtes Giovani Dos Santos (10) and Jorge Enriquez after scoring his side's second goal during the men's soccer quarterfinal match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Senegal's Moussa Konate, center, tries to score next to Mexico's goalkeeper Jose Corona and Mexico's Diego Reyes during their men's soccer quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Mexico's Jorge Enriquez celebrates after scoring during their men's soccer quarterfinal match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

  • Mexico's Jorge Enriquez, not seen, scores his side's opening goal during the men's soccer quarterfinal match against Senegal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)