Regardless of personal preference, a few names come to mind when considering the greatest players of all time. Neymar chose to call the “king” of football without mentioning either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
The deft winger, who is currently 33 years old and is considered to be among the greatest dribblers in football history, just finished an incredible homecoming to Santos but enjoyed playing for teams like Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
He has had the luxury of playing with some contemporary greats like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and perhaps the greatest football player of all time, Lionel Messi, during his career, which began in his native Brazil. However, none of them, in his opinion, are better than Messi.
Neymar has been dubbed “the prince who didn’t want to be a king” due to his career’s ups and downs, which are usually caused by a long list of ailments that still plague him today. However, who is the unquestionable monarch, according to Neymar?
Speaking to the YouTube channel TheGrefg, the former Champions League champion stated that his compatriot Pele still holds the top spot on the podium, not because he never aspired to be the “king.”
Not because I didn’t want to rule; rather, it’s because Pele is the only king I see.
“Many things happened, I had many injuries that cost me a lot in my career, and well, God wanted it that way,” Neymar explained when asked why he never rose to the position of unheard-of “king” of the beautiful game. On the contrary, I have nothing to say.
“I am really content with my life and my narrative. Nearly all of my dreams came true, and I even accomplished other things I never would have imagined. I am really thankful to God for transforming my life as well as the lives of my friends and family. For me, that is what matters most.
On three separate times, in 1958, 1962, and 1970, Brazilian leader Pele raised the world in the air with a flurry of goals at the top of the standings. The striker was the whole package, and his dribbling skills were just as stunning.
Before the Ronaldo-Messi duopoly, the late and brilliant line-leader, widely considered as one of the greatest No. 10s in football history, embodied all that was delightful about the game: invention, potency, and vision.
According to the BBC, Neymar spearheaded the Instagram tributes following Pele’s tragic passing: “Before Pele, football was just a sport.” Everything was altered by Pele. He transformed football into entertainment and art. He provided Black people and the impoverished a voice. Mostly, he made Brazil more visible. The King elevated football and Brazil’s stature! His charm will endure even though he is no longer there.
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