NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Brazilian icon Cafu has sensationally claimed Neymar is technically superior to both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as he backed the striker to lead the Selecao at the upcoming World Cup.
The legendary right-back, who remains the only man to play in three consecutive World Cup finals, believes Neymar’s fitness remains the ultimate difference-maker for the Brazil national team.
Neymar well past his peak
Neymar was once considered the heir to the Messi-Ronaldo throne, but the Ballon d’Or has always eluded him and, after seeing his career halted by numerous injuries, the 34-year-old is now struggling to recapture his best form at Santos. He has been a Brazilian football icon since his first spell at Santos, but his maturity and focus off the pitch has often been called into question. With the World Cup just around the corner, the pressure is on for Neymar to force his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s squad as Brazil chase their first global crown since 2002.
Technical superiority compared to GEDER
Despite Neymar facing a series of fitness struggles in recent seasons, former AC Milan defender Cafu insists the former Barcelona man’s ceiling has always been higher than that of Messi and Ronaldo.
“For me Neymar was technically even better than [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi,” the Brazilian legend added The Times. “He’s had a brilliant career.”
When pressed on Neymar’s World Cup prospects, Cafu added: “Any team that has a decisive player like Neymar needs that player. If Neymar is in good shape – physically fit, tactically fit, technically fit – it is obvious that he is a player who decides games. But only Ancelotti can decide and only Neymar can know if he is ready.”
Ancelotti and the Brazil transition
The Selecao are entering a new era under Ancelotti, the first foreigner to take sole responsibility for the national team.
“I’m comfortable with that,” Cafu explained. “Ancelotti is the most Brazilian Italian coach ever because he has worked with so many Brazilian players. Brazil has modernized. Most of the best Brazilian players play in Europe and Ancelotti is European, but that doesn’t mean Brazilian football is European football. The Brazilian essence will always be there.” Ancelotti himself has targeted balance for the side, stating that he wants “an Italian defense and a Brazilian attack”, a strategy that Cafu believes “can work well.”
Handling the WC pressure
The pressure is a constant companion for the Brazilian national team, especially as they look to avoid going six consecutive tournaments without a win. Cafu recalled how his legendary side handled the weight of expectation. Surprisingly, it involved a makeshift game of golf in a hotel corridor on the eve of their eventual victory against Germany.
“We played golf,” Cafu joked. “We were in our hotel before the final in 2002 and everyone was talking. Ronaldinho had a ball and club in his room that a team had given him as a gift. He got a plastic cup and put it in the corridor and started trying to hit the ball into the cup. I’m terrible at golf but everyone played – me, Ronaldo, Roberto, Ed Carlos, we stay. corridor for maybe an hour and a half It was the night before the World Cup final and we played golf to have fun
Reporting by GOAL.
