Neymar is quickly becoming one of soccer's biggest stars. The FC Barcelona-Brazilian National Team star is thriving alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during La Liga and Champions League play. Coming off a nomination for the Ballon d'Or, Neymar is becoming the next big Nike star while looking like the future of the spot. According to Cristiano Rinaldo, at some point Neymar will be better than Messi.
Right now Neymar is enjoying learning from Messi and playing alongside him as a teammate, but will there come a time when the student then becomes the teacher? According to Ronaldo, Neymar has what it takes to be the best.
"I like Neymar a lot. He is a bit like me," Ronaldo said, via The Mirror. "He had some difficulties in getting used to his new environment at first, but I knew that he was going to succeed. Can he be Messi's heir? Yes, he has everything he needs to become as strong as him."
Messi certainly agrees that Neymar is the future of the spot. The Barcelona franchise star said that Neymar will one day take home his own Ballon d'Or, something the Brazilian said is not important to him. Like Ronaldo, Suarez predicts his teammate will soon be the best in the world. While he was quick to stress that Messi was still the best player in the world right now, Neymar comes in at a close No.2.
"Today, Neymar is No. 2 [in the world], he's behind Leo but he will keep learning from him, because he's a great reference," Suarez said, via Goal.com. "But with every game, Neymar is doing different things, every time more difficult to pull off. Anytime soon he will be No. 1 in the world. It is admirable the happiness he has, and his humility."
Barcelona certainly likes the idea that Messi and Neymar run No.1 and No.2 in the world. Along with Suarez, they are the best attacking trio on the pitch right now. Of course that has only spawned transfer rumors as Barcelona is paying plenty of money to keep all three happy. While rumors of a move continue to circle around Neymar with his Barcelona contract coming up, the Brazilian stressed he plans to stay with the club for many year.
"There is debate with it all -- the renewal and everything -- I am very happy in Barcelona, I have almost everything," Neymar said, via ESPN.com. "I have happiness and health. It is difficult to leave here because I have found a great city, a great club, some players from another planet and for me it's difficult but we have to see everything. These are things that make it difficult to decide but we must be calm because I still have years at the club."