A few days ago, Neymar sparked controversy by stating he could have taken Rivaldo’s place in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup squad. Before the debate settled, the Brazilian star made headlines again by comparing himself with some of football’s biggest names during a recent interview.
In a rapid-fire Q&A session, Neymar was first asked to compare himself with his friend and former teammate Luis Suárez. Without hesitation, Neymar claimed he was ahead of Suárez.
During the interview, Neymar went on to declare himself better than Ángel Di María, Endrick, Mohamed Salah, Rivaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Vinícius Júnior. However, Neymar admitted that there are only two players he considers better than himself: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neymar shares a long-standing friendship with Messi, which began during their time at Barcelona and continued at PSG. Off the pitch, the two are often seen spending time together, joined by their mutual friend Luis Suárez. While Neymar rated himself higher than Suárez in the interview, he humbly placed Messi above himself, continuing his tradition of praising the Argentine legend.
Although Neymar has never played alongside Ronaldo, he has immense respect for the Portuguese superstar as a rival. Neymar acknowledged Ronaldo’s extraordinary career and achievements, which led him to rank Ronaldo above himself.
Comparison Breakdown
- Luis Suárez – Neymar places himself ahead.
- Ángel Di María – Neymar places himself ahead.
- Endrick – Neymar places himself ahead.
- Mohamed Salah – Neymar places himself ahead.
- Lionel Messi – Messi is ahead of Neymar.
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Ronaldo is ahead of Neymar.
- Rivaldo – Neymar places himself ahead.
- Kylian Mbappé – Neymar places himself ahead.
- Vinícius Júnior – Neymar places himself ahead.
