'I played with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo - I know who was best'

Neymar was ne'er capable to lucifer the idiosyncratic records and accolades of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - but 1 erstwhile team-mate believes he's amended than some men

Gianluigi Buffon has named Neymar arsenic his champion team-mate contempt playing with the game's 2 biggest superstars successful Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Brazilian is present plying his commercialized successful Saudi Arabia having near PSG to head to the Middle East 18 months ago. For astir a decennary though helium was 1 of Europe's outstanding performers during his clip astatine Barcelona and PSG.

With the Spanish broadside helium was prolific and claimed the lone Champions League occurrence of his career. The Parisians made him the world's astir costly subordinate erstwhile they signed him successful 2017, hoping helium could spearhead their ascent to the apical of European football.

It was astatine PSG that Neymar and Buffon crossed but, contempt accordant moments of magic, Neymar couldn't present the eventual prize successful Paris and the idiosyncratic accolades helium truthful craved eluded him. Despite that the legendary Italian goalkeeper has named him arsenic the champion among a stellar line-up - and claimed helium should person won arsenic galore arsenic 5 Ballon d'Ors.

He told Corriere della Sera : "I played with 3 generations, however tin I accidental it? (Zinedine) Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, (Andres) Iniesta... But if I person to take 1 I'd accidental Neymar . For the subordinate and the lad helium is, helium should person won 5 Ballon d'Ors."

That isn't to accidental Buffon wasn't afloat of praise for Messi and Ronaldo though. The legendary keeper added: "Champions League last successful 2015. Half-time. I felt a manus connected my back: 'Gigi, shall we swap shirts now?'. It was Messi. The genuinely large ne'er enactment connected airs.

"With Cristiano, connected the different hand, I person ever had a fantastic relationship: confidences, judgments connected the caller talents. I saw successful him a large spot and besides a fragility, linked to the lack of his begetter , to the hard way helium had to look ."

Neymar had agelong hoped to seizure the Golden Ball - an grant won by galore of those helium watched increasing up. Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka each claimed the grant during their highest years. Many felt that Neymar's determination to PSG was truthful that helium could measurement retired of Messi's shadow.

Neymar scored 118 times whilst successful Paris and besides passed a period of goals whilst helium played astatine Barcelona. The Brazilian himself, who has besides missed retired connected starring his state to World Cup success, had antecedently bemoaned his luck with injuries and insists helium is not defined by winning the Ballon d'Or.

He said: “I had a small atrocious luck aft suffering a superior injury, but shot was just to me. Football gave maine everything I person today, and I convey God for making maine a shot player. The Ballon D’Or is the imagination of each player, but it is not the champion thing. Respect of radical is the happening that it’s worthy it.“

Despite Buffon's examination - placing Neymar supra the likes of some Ronaldos, Zidane and Messi - they corporate person 16 Ballon d'Ors betwixt them. Messi starring the battalion with a grounds eight.

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