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Friday's quarter-final in Fortaleza set to be battle of No 10s between Neymar and James Rodriguez

There will be hundreds of millions of pounds worth of talent on display when Brazil take on Colombia in Friday's World Cup quarter-final, but the contest will boil down to a battle between the No 10s.

Both are 22 years of age, both have illuminated this World Cup and both are shouldering the burden of their nation's expectation.

Millions around the world - and an incredibly lucky 60,000 at the Castelao in Fortaleza - will be glued to the battle between Neymar of Brazil and James Rodriguez of Colombia. Here's how the two superstars match up.

Neymar entered the World Cup in an unenviable position. His nation's poster boy for a tournament in which a far-from-vintage Brazil team are expected to triumph, Neymar could have crumbled under the colossal weight of expectation.

But the 22-year-old has, so far, kept his composure and guided Brazil into the quarter-finals with an occasional sprinkling of stardust.

On the occasion of his 50th cap for Brazil, he scored twice on opening night - a run and shot from outside the box that squeezed into the far corner and a penalty - as Croatia were beaten 3-1.

After Brazil drew a blank against Mexico, Neymar scored twice as they thrashed Cameroon 4-1 to reach the second round.


Against Chile in the last-16, Neymar demonstrated an ice-cold temperament to convert the winning penalty in a tense shoot-out following a 1-1 draw. He had finished the 120 minutes barely able to stand, as a knee injury flared up, but any doubts about his ability to perform under pressure were dispelled as his penalty hit the back of Claudio Bravo's net.

Rodriguez has been the revelation of the tournament, without question its best player and someone who seems to be improving with every game. Many were quick to label Colombia as 'dark horses' for the title and with Rodriguez taking up the reins, they've been at full gallop. He has scored five times - one more than Neymar - and is the front runner for the Golden Boot (and you would have got long odds on that before the tournament).

What's more, he scored the most beautiful goal of the tournament, that volley against Uruguay in the last round that was one elegant, fluid movement of chest control, spin and strike.

In the group stage, he scored one and created one against Greece and found the target too against the Ivory Coast and Japan. A tap-in completed the win over Uruguay and set up another all-South American affair in the last eight.



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