Neymar picks up Samba Gold Award for being the best Brazilian playing in Europe

Watch the moment Balotelli and his Liverpool pals are shown up at free-kicks by hoaxer impersonating a competition winner
'Roy Keane told us to 'enjoy being s***' in bizarre team talk' reveals former Sunderland defender Higginbotham in explosive claims
MARTIN SAMUEL: Does Kane feel pressured being compared with Owen and Rooney? Does he hell...
Wenger sees the funny side after journalist asks about MailOnline's April Fools' Day story
'Be careful when you time a move to one of the biggest clubs': Scholes delivers warning with dig at old rivals
Wenger will give injury-prone Diaby another chance to prove he is worth being offered fresh contract
MARTIN KEOWN: Kane has quality but I'm struggling to work out why it's taken him so long to reach this level
Manchester United vs Arsenal moved to Sunday as latest Premier League TV fixtures are revealed
REVEALED: How spending £11m per Premier League TV match has forced Sky Sports into making cuts
Sterling is staying put, vows Rodgers as £100,000-a-week contract rebel returns to Liverpool training with handshake for boss
From £60 a day at QPR to a £2,000-a-week offer to join Liverpool, now he is knocking back £100,000... we chart the rise and rise of richer and richer Raheem Sterling
Rodgers reveals heartache as a youth player has given Liverpool boss tools to nurture the likes of Sterling
Sterling has gone from being lectured by Rodgers to telling Liverpool what he wants - but he'll lose the fans
LIVERPOOL FAN VIEW: If Sterling wants to go, let him... but Arsenal isn't a big enough step up
Sterling is NOT being disloyal in postponing contract talks with Liverpool, claims PFA chief Taylor
WHAT HE SAID: I'm not a money-grabber... WHAT HE MEANT: Can't I just run my contract down in peace?
Katy Perry's a Hammer and Cheryl loves her local heroes... but does Bieber really back Everton? Check out our celebrity fan guide
UFC star Rousey proves a knockout at Fast & Furious 7 premiere... but WWE show was one-off
PREMIER LEAGUE Q&A;: Will United finish second? Should Kane be Player of Year? And how does Gerrard go?
210 MILES and counting! The top 10 stars who have covered most distance in the Premier League
Former United striker Smith denies Liverpool fans attacked ambulance on way out of Anfield with horror injury
Saunders and Eubank Jnr could face each other in re-match next month after pair clash at fiery press conference
Manchester United flop Anderson is left shocked after being sent off in Brazil
Arbeloa claims Mourinho could return to manage Real Madrid - despite controversial exit

Barcelona superstar recognised as best Brazil player in Europe
Neymar beat Miranda and Felipe Melo to win the Samba Gold Award
PSG defender Thiago Silva had won award for last three seasons

Published: 14:20 EST, 31 March 2015 | Updated: 14:31 EST, 31 March 2015

View
comments

Barcelona superstar Neymar has scooped the Samba Gold Award, which recognises the best Brazilian player in European football.

The annual award by French organisation Sambafoot collects over 150,000 votes worldwide as well as opinions from respected journalists and former players.

The 23-year-old edged out compatriots Miranda of Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray midfielder Felipe Melo after an impressive 2014 season at the Nou Camp.

Neymar has scooped the Samba Gold Award, which recognises the best Brazilian player in European football

Neymar returned to Barcelona from international duty to pick up the Samba Gold Award

The Brazilian was involved in his country's 1-0 friendly defeat of Chile at the Emirates on Sunday

SAMBA GOLD KINGS

2008 Kaka

2009 Luis Fabiano

2010 Maicon

2011 Thiago Silva

2012 Thiago Silva

2013 Thiago Silva

2014 Neymar

Neymar has scored 26 goals in all competitions for Luis Enrique's side to follow PSG defender Thiago Silva who has collected the award for the past three seasons.

This was the seventh edition of an accolade that has been presented since 2008 with past winners including Kaka and Maicon.

Meanwhile, Neymar has responded to Gary Medel's accusation of 'theatrics' by saying he does not know who the Chile midfielder is.

The pair were involved in Brazil's feisty 1-0 defeat of Chile in an international friendly on Sunday before the former Cardiff enforcer accused Neymar of play acting.

'I don't know Medel, I don't know who he is. If he says that it is theatre, from there I will say nothing else. Only that it was a tough match,' he told Mediaset.