AT 20, Neymar is already a star. He has dazzled in London as Brazil chases its first Olympic gold in football. He is the Samba boys' own Messi and alongside Chelsea's new signing Oscar, dubbed the new Kaka, they are sure to triumph in the final against Mexico on Sunday morning (Fiji time).
It's surprising that a nation that eats, breathes and sleeps football as the most successful in the history of the FIFA World Cup with five victories, is yet to lay its hands on an Olympic gold. No wonder they have paraded their finest in England this year and look simply invincible.
It's obvious though that the focus is not only on the Olympics but the 2014 World Cup. The likes of Neymar, Santos midfield ace Paulo Henrique Ganso, 22, AC Milan marksman Alexandre Pato, 22, Oscar, 20, and Leandro Damiao, 23, who scored twice in Wednesday's 3-0 semi-final win over South Korea, have all been capped with the senior side and should be pressing for run-on team berths at the 2014 World Cup.
Then there are the three over-aged players, as allowed to each team in this under-23 tournament in London, Porto striker Hulk, 26, Real Madrid fullback Marcelo, 24, and Paris St.Germain defender Thiago Silva, 27.
They are looking ruthless already. In two years, add to that Barcelona's Daniel Alves, 29, perhaps one of the finest wing backs in the world, the fuzzy-haired Chelsea central defender David Luiz, 27, Sao Paulo's young sensation Loucas Moura, 19 and Chelsea's workhorse Ramires, 25.
All that talent and I have not even mentioned Inter stopper Julio Cesar, 32, experienced defender Lucio, 34, of Juventus, who boasts 105 caps, Real Madrid's midfield maestro Kaka, 30, and AC Milan's Robinho, 28. Look at Spain and their historic treble of late in becoming the first team to win three international events in succession (the 2008 Euro Championship, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and retaining the Euro crown last June).
Their success was built around players like Barcelona midfield aces Andres Iniesta, 28, and Xavi, 32. They are the pass masters. Even former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, 25, could not get into Spain's starting line-up in 2010 and two months ago, they had to create a new position of 'a false striker' or 'false 9' to accommodate this talented former Gunner. Looking forward to the showdown in Brazil in 2014, Spain will be there and thereabouts.
Xavi could still heck it at 34 but if he is not at his best then Fabregas and Iniesta will run the engine room. Barcelona's Sergio Busquets is 24, Manchester City's David Silv, 26, Sevilla's Jesus Nevas, 26, and Chelsea's Juan Mata, 24. So there are options galore in mid-field as these players will be at the peak of their careers.
How about their firepower upfront? Barcelona's Pedro is still 25, Chelsea's Fernando Torres, 28, Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente, 27, and Sevilla's Alvaro Negredo, 26. At the back, two of the best defenders Gerrard Pique (Barcelona), who is dating Colombian singer Shakira, is 25 and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos, 26.
In Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, 31, my pick as the best goalkeeper in the world right now, Barcelona's Victor Valdes, 30, and Liverpool's Pepe Reina, 29, they have the best stoppers. So how do you look beyond Brazil and Spain at the next world cup?
Spain, after playing second-fiddle to others for so many years, have finally unearthed their golden generation. Brazil wasted no time in taking a leaf out of the Spanish book to lay their platform for the future as seen by their preference of youngsters in recent international outings.
They are using the Olympics as a stepping stone to 2014 and other future international events. An X-factor is very important in any sporting team and for now the X-factors in football are Barcelona duo Xavi and Iniesta. In two to four years, barring injuries, they could still be around, but not at their best for, with age, all good things come to an end.
That's when you will hear the names of Oscar and Neymar and don't be surprised if the Brazilians return to their dazzling best from thereon. Their golden generation is being built at this Olympics. On Sunday, they should win their first-ever Olympic football gold and straight away turn their focus to the world cup at home in 2014.
Two years later, the venue will be the same (Brazil) but the focus will be on our first Olympic gold hunt in sevens rugby. Tomasi Cama, voted 2011/2012 IRB Sevens World Series Player of the Year, knows that Fiji will be up there with the best in Rio de Janiero.
In an exclusive interview with Times Sport, Cama Jr sees France-based Metuisela Talebula as the next big thing in the abbreviated code after Waisale Serevi, Amasio Raoma and himself.
"I think Talebula is something special," Cama Jr said.
"He shows how good he is on attack, and can score tries and is a good defender as well. He will go a long way if he can keep up the good work."
Coming from a man of Cama Jr's calibre, that speaks highly of Talebula's talent and how he could be our X-factor in 2016. We all know what Talebula is worth. He is classy orchestrating play and tearing the opposition defence to shreds, but more importantly, like Cama Jr said, he is sound and almost impeccable in defence.
We finished second in last year's series but at a closer look, that's as good as a win for it was the first phase of a rebuilding process.
Coaches Alifereti Dere and Etuate Waqa have done an excellent job so far. What's most impressive is their boldness to give young unknowns a chance to prove their worth in the top flight. In doing so, they are laying a solid platform for our raid on what would be a priceless gold in Rio.
Look at Talebula. He is only 21, yet so matured and composed on the field of play.
Also in their early 20s are Nikola Matawalu, Levani Botia, and Waisea Nayacalevu, three players who will be at the top of their game in four years. Joji Ragamate and Jimilai Naikadawa are 27.
Now Dere and Waqa are raking in budding under-20 reps, Aca Simolo and others, a step in the right direction.
Some of these rising stars taking up overseas contracts should been seen in positive light.
The more players Dere and Waqa can introduce on the international scene, the better as the focus is not only on the IRB Sevens World Series.
If we win, it's a bonus, if we lose every year until 2016 and produce at least 15 world class sevens players in that period and help them secure deals overseas, that in itself would be a tremendous achievement.
For the ultimate goal is the 2016 Olympics and at the same time these players will help give their families back home a better life with their earnings from abroad.
We should put all our energy into building a dream team around Talebula for he, without doubt, will be our X-factor in Rio.
For now, Dere and Waqa are well on track and deserve to be in charge right through to Rio 2016.
Spain can keep winning, three in a row or more, but unless they rival Brazil's unmatched 5-time World Cup triumphs, they will remain in the shadows of the world's best.
Messi and Ronaldo can keep winning the World Player of the Year awards but Pele remains the best of all-time unless these two can win three world cup medals, a feat achieved only by the great Brazilian.
New Zealand can keep winning the sevens series for we still are the best being the only nation with two world cup victories in the shortened code.
That's why, for us, the Olympic gold is more important.