Gianluigi Buffon on Neymar: He should have won five Ballon d’Or

The Italian legend feels Neymar is better than both Ronaldo and Messi.

Neymar should have won five Ballons d’Or, according to Gianluigi Buffon, who believes the Brazilian is more gifted than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Throughout his incredible career, World Cup winner Buffon played alongside and against many legendary people. The former Italy international goalkeeper lined up against Messi and countless other generations of talented players, sharing a dressing room with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Zinedine Zidane.

Before finally putting up his gloves in 2023, Buffon played well into his 40s. He now enjoys looking back on all that he accomplished with nostalgia. Talk inevitably shifted to the best players he ever faced on the field.

Buffon responded as follows when Corriere della Sera asked him that question:

“I played with three generations, how can I choose? Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, CR7, [Andres] Iniesta… But if I have to pick one I’d say Neymar. For the player and the boy he is, he should have won five Ballons d’Or!”

Neymar could have won at least one Ballon d’Or had he continued at Barcelona as the player was performing at his prime there.

In 2018–19, Buffon and Neymar played together for Paris Saint-Germain for a season. He then went back to Juventus to train with Portuguese superstar Ronaldo, who has won five Golden Balls and is hoping to follow in his former teammate’s footsteps by continuing to play at the highest level into the age of forty.

Meanwhile, Neymar is playing for Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal, but the forward’s time at the club has been so far injury-plagued. He returned to action last month after being sidelined for a year with an ACL injury.

However, the former Barcelona player was once again sidelined with a hamstring injury. Now it remains to be seen for how long he will be out. His future at the Saudi club is also doubtful as they are considering terminating his contract due to the player’s constant injury crisis since his move.

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