Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos does not believe compatriot Neymar has a chance of winning the Ballon d’Or accolade until the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo call time on their respective careers. The 26-year-old made the switch from Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer in order to enhance his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, but Carlos feels the attacker has to settle for the third position so long as Messi and Ronaldo are in form.
“I think he did well to sign at PSG. To be the best in the world he had to leave Barca because there is Messi.Even if he must be aware that, as long as Messi and Ronaldo are in form, he will have to settle for third place,” he is quoted as saying by France Football. Meanwhile, Carlos dismissed Neymar’s prospects of captaining Brazil in the future after his lean form with the captain’s armband between 2015 and 2016, he added: "Neymar can become the best player in the world, but he can never be the captain of Brazil.
We should all remember that Neymar was already a captain of Brazil and had serious difficulties during that period." Neymar has had a good season with Paris Saint-Germain, where he has contributed 26 goals, but unfortunately, his campaign appears to have reached an early end after sustaining a broken metatarsal. The Brazilian has already had a surgery on the issue, but according to reports, he may not return until the summer World Cup finals in Russia.
Brazil are reckoned by many as the joint-favourites alongside holders Germany to win this summer’s tournament, but Neymar’s fitness remains critical to their chances of ending their 16-year wait for the World Cup. Brazil will face-off against Serbia, Costa Rica and Switzerland in Group E of the showpiece tournament.
