Barcelona star Neymar suffering worst year in front of goal since he was 17 after failing to score since October

BARCELONA ace Neymar is suffering his worst season in front of goal since he was a 17-year-old at Santos.

The 24-year-old will finish 2016 with just 29 goals for both Brazil and the La Liga champions and is currently experiencing a goal drought of nine games stretching back until October.

The tricky winger last found the back of net when Barca hosted Manchester City in the Champions League, with the hosts winning 4-0.

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It has been a disappointing year for the Brazilian in front of goal, despite winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup with Barcelona as well as guiding his nation to Gold at the Olympics in Rio as captain.

But a reflection of how poor Neymar has been in front of goal this year, is that in 2015 he scored 17 more goals with a total of 46.

And his current tally of 29 is his worst since 2009 which was when he broke into the first team at Santos where he eventually went on to bag 15 goals.

A reason as to why Neymar's goal count may have dropped significantly is because he has become more of a creative player within Luis Enriques side.

The Samba star has certainly pulled his weight in this department after topping the assist chart in Champions League with seven.

Whilst also having seven to his name in La Liga as he his on par with the league leaders Toni Kroos of Real Madrid and Espanyol's Pablo Piatti.

But despite Neymar's tame year in front of goal, his deadly strike partners Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez have maintained their clinical form this year.

With Messi scoring 59 in 2016, whilst Suarez has netted eight less with 51.