When Neymar Described Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo With 1 Word

• Neymar once placed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the same bracket
• The Brazilian holds the GOAT duo in high esteem
• He is currently recuperating from a long-term injury after undergoing surgery

Neymar Junior once lauded Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, acknowledging the superstar duo as extraordinary talents in a league of their own.

The Brazilian playmaker was initially identified as the potential successor to the iconic pair, often hailed as the greatest footballers of all time, when he first emerged as a teenage sensation at Brazilian club Santos.

At the remarkable age of 19, Neymar secured a place in the Top 10 rankings for the Ballon d'Or in 2011, notably becoming the sole player in history to achieve this feat without having played in Europe.

Presently on the books of Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal, the former Barcelona and PSG forward has encountered an unfortunate setback, facing a premature end to the season and potential absence from the upcoming Copa América following an ACL tear sustained during Brazil's 2026 World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay in October.

Lionel Messi yet to win unique award already won by Cristiano Ronaldo

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Subsequently, he underwent surgery in Belo Horizonte on Thursday, as cited by ESPN.

Having fostered a camaraderie with Messi since his move to Europe, sharing the same dressing room with the eight-time Ballon d'Or awardee at both Barca and PSG, Neymar maintains a cordial relationship with Ronaldo as well.

Neymar describes Messi, Ronaldo with 1 word

The illustrious duo's dominance in global football over nearly two decades has relegated other footballers, including Neymar, to the periphery, prompting the Brazilian to encapsulate their stature with a single word.

As reported by GOAL, when asked to characterize Messi and Ronaldo, the 31-year-old simply referred to them as "geniuses."

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Neymar salutes Messi over Ballon d'Or success

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Brazilian forward has congratulated Lionel Messi after winning the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time.

The Argentina and Inter Miami star was crowned the 2023 best player at the 67th Ballon d'Or awards, beating off competition from Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe.