Neymar was never able to match the individual records and accolades of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – but one former team-mate believes he’s better than both men
Gianluigi Buffon believes Neymar was superior to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – claiming he was worthy of five Ballon d’Ors.
The Brazilian is now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia having left PSG to head to the Middle East 18 months ago. For almost a decade though he was one of Europe’s outstanding performers during his time at Barcelona and PSG.
With the Spanish side he was prolific and claimed the only Champions League success of his career. The Parisians made him the world’s most expensive player when they signed him in 2017, hoping he could spearhead their ascent to the top of European football.
It was at PSG that Neymar and Buffon crossed but, despite consistent moments of magic, Neymar couldn’t deliver the ultimate prize in Paris and the individual accolades he so craved eluded him. Despite that the legendary Italian goalkeeper has named him as the best among a stellar line-up.
He told Corriere della Sera : “I played with three generations, how can I say it? (Zinedine) Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, (Andres) Iniesta… But if I have to choose one I’d say Neymar . For the player and the boy he is, he should have won five Ballon d’Ors.”
That isn’t to say Buffon wasn’t full of praise for Messi and Ronaldo though. The legendary keeper added: “Champions League final in 2015. Half-time. I felt a hand on my back: ‘Gigi, shall we swap shirts now?’. It was Messi. The truly great never put on airs.
“With Cristiano, on the other hand, I have always had a wonderful relationship: confidences, judgments on the new talents. I saw in him a great strength and also a fragility, linked to the absence of his father , to the hard path he had to face .”
Neymar had long hoped to capture the Golden Ball – an award won by many of those he watched growing up. Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka all claimed the award during their peak years. Many felt that Neymar’s move to PSG was so that he could step out of Messi’s shadow.
Neymar scored 118 times whilst in Paris and also passed a century of goals whilst he played at Barcelona. The Brazilian himself, who has also missed out on leading his country to World Cup success, had previously bemoaned his luck with injuries and insists he is not defined by winning the Ballon d’Or.
He said: “I had a little bad luck after suffering a serious injury, but football was fair to me. Football gave me everything I have today, and I thank God for making me a football player. The Ballon D’Or is the dream of every player, but it is not the best thing. Respect of people is the thing that it’s worth it.“
Despite Buffon’s comparison – placing Neymar above the likes of both Ronaldos, Zidane and Messi – they collective have 16 Ballon d’Ors between them. Messi leading the pack with a record eight.
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