Cafu: Neymar better than Messi and Ronaldo

Tom Grant
  • Updated: 14 Nov 2021 15:21 GMT
  • 3 min read
PSG attacker Neymar was named as joint Player of the Tournament at the 2021 Copa America along with Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
© ProShots

Former Brazil star Cafu has revealed he believes Neymar is 'technically better' than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The two-time World Cup winner is a fan of the PSG man and decided to have his say on who was the best player on the planet.

Football fans are never far away from a GOAT debate with Messi and Ronaldo's names often entering the argument.

Neymar has yet to find himself joining his more senior colleagues in the conversation despite enjoying success throughout his career.

At still only 28 years old, Neymar still has time to force those same fans to consider him.

Cafu on Neymar

And in an interview with Marca, the 51-year-old former Roma and Milan right-back had his say on his younger compatriot.

"Neymar is technically better than Messi, better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but he must assume the responsibility of a leader," said Cafu.

Neymar, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, PSG, 2021/22
© ProShots
Neymar is technically better than Messi, better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but he must assume the responsibility of a leader," said Cafu
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"One must dedicate themselves 100 per cent to football, I'm not better than Neymar, but I am better than other right-backs because I dedicated myself to that.

"He [Neymar] has to become a captain."

Neymar's career

The comments may come as a surprise to some with Messi and Ronaldo sharing 11 Balons d'Or between them.

Messi is also in the driving seat for the 2021 Balon d'Or, despite a slow start at new club PSG.

Neymar has yet to win his first Balon d'Or award, the trophy to declare the world's best player each year.

Lionel Messi and Neymar, Copa America final 2021
© ProShots

But he has won 24 trophies in his 12-year club career, including eight league titles and the Champions League.

The Brazilian playmaker has scored 265 goals in 447 games to date, with 90 of those efforts coming in a PSG shirt.

The accusation of antics, including petulance and diving, are never far away from the Brazil star and is often cited as to why he hasn't achieved more in his career.

Read more about: Ligue 1 PSG Neymar

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