Neymar replaces Messi atop the AP Global Football 10
LONDON (AP) - Neymar replaced Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi atop the Associated Press Global Football 10 on Tuesday after propelling their side to a 6-0 win over Elche in the Spanish league.
Neymar and Messi scored twice, but Neymar won a penalty for Messi to convert and provided the assist for the sixth goal, scored by Pedro.
"Barcelona kept the pressure on Real Madrid with a phenomenal six-goal win away from home," Marco Monteverde of News Corp. Australia said, before praising Neymar's performance. "The little Brazilian was lethal in his side's demolition of Elche, sharing the spotlight with Lionel Messi."
Messi tied for second in the poll with Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, who gave another dominant display in Juventus' 2-0 victory over Chievo, including the opening goal.
"Paul Pogba increasingly vindicates those who believe in his great talent," Manos Staramopoulos of Dimocratia in Greece said. "The Juventus midfielder was the great protagonist in the 2-0 Chievo win with an incredibly beautiful goal."
Pogba's France teammate Antoine Griezmann takes fourth position after scoring twice in the opening 22 minutes of Atletico Madrid's 3-1 home victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Dani Parejo enters this week's poll in fifth after he led Valencia to a commanding 3-1 win over Sevilla, scoring two goals in a result that saw his side leapfrog its opponents into fourth in the La Liga standings.
Tomas Rosicky's performance for Arsenal in its 3-2 FA Cup win at Brighton means he takes sixth while striker Patrick Bamford of second-tier Middlesbrough is seventh after scoring his side's opener in a surprise 2-0 win over Premier League champion Manchester City.
Jon Stead, Gareth Bale and Alexandre Lacazette complete the top 10.
Barcelona topped the team poll for the second time in three weeks thanks to its 6-0 victory, while the FA Cup shocks at the weekend earned third-tier side Bradford second place, and Middlesbrough third.
Bradford came back from two goals down to beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.
"Among the many, many 'cupsets' in England this weekend, Bradford City's was by far the most impressive," Sam Tighe of Bleacher Report in England said. "Never has Jose Mourinho squandered a 2-0 lead and subsequently lost the game in his career, but League One's Bantams turned the tables and won 4-2 at Stanford Bridge. Remarkable."
Juventus is fourth after its win against Chievo allowed Massimiliano Allegri's team to extend its lead over Roma in Serie A to seven points. Roma was held to a 1-1 draw by Fiorentina.
Spanish league champion Atletico is fifth, with Lyon a position behind after its 2-0 win over Metz moved it four points ahead of Marseille, which slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Nice.
Valencia takes seventh with Cambridge eighth, after the English fourth tier side held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup on Friday.
"This is a week to salute the FA Cup heroes," Julian Bennetts of Hayters news agency in England said. "Bradford winning at Chelsea, Middlesbrough victorious at Manchester City and Cambridge United holding Manchester United - what a brilliant weekend for all three of them."
Lazio is ninth for coming from behind to beat AC Milan 3-1, while Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Cordoba - where Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off - kept it top of the Spanish league and put the team 10th in the poll this week.
AP Global Football 10:
Players:
1. Neymar, 102 points.
2. Lionel Messi, 98.
Paul Pogba, 98 (tied).
4. Antoine Griezmann, 82.
5. Dani Parejo, 51.
6. Tomas Rosicky, 46.
7. Patrick Bamford, 44.
8. Jon Stead, 42.
9. Gareth Bale, 36.
10. Alexandre Lacazette, 25.
Teams:
1. Barcelona, 118.
2. Bradford, 104.
3. Middlesbrough, 80.
4. Juventus, 76.
5. Atletico Madrid, 65.
6. Lyon, 53.
7. Valencia, 50.
8. Cambridge, 42.
9. Lazio, 41.
10. Real Madrid, 38.