Rio Ferdinand says Neymar 'could do things' Messi & Ronaldo couldn't
The Brazilian had massive potential, but injuries did their thing.
Rio Ferdinand, a veteran of Manchester United, has entered the discussion on Neymar’s legacy. He explicitly refuted Wayne Rooney’s recent assertion that the Brazilian was never a “top, top player.”
The former England defender asserted on his podcast that Neymar’s technical skill and flair at his best were on par with those of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ferdinand maintained that the Santos star was once the unchallenged heir to the world throne, even as he acknowledged Rooney’s own magnificence.
Rooney’s contentious assessment that the 34-year-old did not make it to the elite “top class” bracket filled by the game’s most consistent victors has caused division in the football world. Ferdinand vehemently refuted these remarks, which ignited a contentious debate about the Brazilian’s influence at FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
The former defender felt obliged to emphasise the exceptional, once-in-a-generation skill that the Brazilian brought to the field during his prime years in Europe, all the while retaining his admiration for Rooney.
Ferdinand speaks when Neymar used to outshine Messi & Ronaldo
The 47-year-old revealed in the most recent episode of his podcast, “Rio Ferdinand Presents,” that the Santos forward’s almost superhuman skills with the ball formerly distinguished him from all of his contemporaries, even Messi and Ronaldo at times.
“I don’t think it was a Wayne vs. Neymar conversation; I don’t think it was that. Ferdinand said. I’m one of Wayne’s biggest admirers and shout the loudest about Wayne when we’re talking about what he’s done, what he’s achieved when you put him up against other greats, okay.”
“But I have to say that Neymar could do things that no other player in the world could do. And I’m talking about Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of, he could do things that those two couldn’t do, right?:
“There’s a time when you’re looking at him and thinking, ‘Right, this is the heir to the throne.’ Like, he was that close at a certain point in his career when he was at Barca.”
Was Neymar better than Ronaldo and Messi?
Ferdinand feels the Brazilian could do things even Messi and Ronaldo couldn’t.
Did he win the Ballon d’Or like Messi and Ronaldo?
Neymar never won a Ballon d’Or.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.