Brazilian superstar Neymar has said that he is without doubt that the Barcelona playmaker and attacker Lionel Messi should be handed the FIFA Ballon d’Or award. The Barcelona superstar scored 73 goals in all competitions for the club last season. Even though he failed to lift any major trophy with the club last season, Neymar reckons that the world record achievement of scoring more than 73 goals in all competitions is in itself is an extraordinary achievement, which needs to be recognised. The 20-year-old Santos striker Neymar has been widely tipped to join Barcelona after two seasons.
There have been many reports suggesting that Neymar has agreed a pre-contract agreement with Barcelona while he was playing for Santos in the club World Cup final last season. Even though both Santos and Neymar have been quick to dismiss the speculation, it is widely expected that Barcelona now at the forefront of signing the next big thing to come out of Brazil. Neymar was recently in contention for the award last season, but has ruled himself out of the running by saying that Lionel Messi should be the unanimous winner of the award for his achievements in front of goal with Barcelona last season.
“Me? No, the Ballon d’Or is for Messi, who is the best in the world, there is no one like him. He will win it, he is the greatest. He comes up with new things after every match. Yes, yes, another Ballon d’Or for Messi. That is what there is. We all know it,” said Neymar in a recent interview. Brazilian legend Pele has often said that he feels Neymar is a much more complete than Lionel Messi, but the Brazilian striker refused to join in the argument comparing him with Lionel Messi. He also said that he idolises Messi.