In brief
Neymar, a legend from Brazil, named five players he thought had superior technical skill.
Prior to joining PSG, Neymar was eager to get back together with the Argentine, and Lionel Messi was at the top of the winger’s list.
Three previous Premier League players—including one obscure former Liverpool player—were mentioned.
Neymar, a former Barcelona player, has long been regarded as one of his generation’s most technically talented players. Similar to Kaka and Ronaldinho, the Brazilian superstar was a multi-talented individual who could do almost anything and frequently made defenders look foolish.
It is hardly surprising that the winger has established such a stellar reputation for himself, having won nearly every trophy in European football. Even he doesn’t think he was the best with the ball at his feet, though. Neymar mentioned five other skills that he felt went beyond his abilities in an interview with Oh My Goal in 2021, one of which was a forgotten former Liverpool player.
Lionel Messi
Neymar claimed ‘everyone wanted to play’ with the Argentine
It is likely that you will also be one of the most technically proficient players if you have won the Ballon d’Or eight times. Lionel Messi’s inclusion as one of the top names on Neymar’s list should therefore not be shocking. Regarding his erstwhile partner, the Santos talisman declared:
“He is the best. The best of all. Every player and every club adores him. All of them want to play with him.
Because of Messi’s skill, Neymar was the only player at Camp Nou who was unable to move beyond his status as a sidekick. But it seems that the Brazilian still thinks highly of him.
Eden Hazard
The Belgian struggled at Real Madrid but starred for Chelsea
Neymar undoubtedly enjoyed his time in La Liga more than his next selection, but it’s unclear if he could have made the same impact at Chelsea as Eden Hazard did in the Premier League. When the Belgian was playing at his peak at Stamford Bridge, he was virtually unstoppable and helped the Blues win their past two Premier League titles.
His aspirational transfer to Real Madrid was ruined by injuries and inconsistent play, which resulted in a depressing slide. But this deterioration was mostly caused by the heights he was initially falling from.
Kevin De Bruyne
The midfielder is one of the Premier League’s greatest
Kevin De Bruyne was already a top-tier player in 2021. After a turbulent period at Chelsea, he changed his life’s course and became one of the most influential players in English football. With more domestic accolades and a Champions League victory as part of the historic 2023 triple at the Etihad, the playmaker has only strengthened his status since Neymar’s remarks.
De Bruyne’s technical prowess is further demonstrated by the fact that he is second in the all-time Premier League assists rankings, trailing only Ryan Giggs, who had the good fortune to play in the English top flight for more than 20 years. It might have been the 33-year-old on top of that mountain if it weren’t for that.
Verratti, Marco
At PSG, the Italian midfielder was a talent who was not given enough credit.
It’s inconceivable that Marco Verratti, who is only 32 years old, is no longer competing at the top level of European football. The Italian midfielder, who was seen as a bit of a party guy, was a fantastic orchestrator in the middle of the park and contributed to Italy’s most recent international triumph in 2021.
Verratti’s ability to control play and find a pass to his more attacking teammates, like Neymar at PSG, more than made up for his diminutive size. The diminutive football player may never make a comeback to the Champions League, but he certainly still possesses the talent to play frequently.
Thaigo Alcantara
The former Liverpool man was forced to retire after injury issues
Thiago Alcantara’s English football career didn’t quite go as planned, but it wasn’t because he wasn’t talented. Before coming to Anfield, the midfield player was a mainstay at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and the Spain team, and he was hailed as one of the most elegant players in the contemporary game.
Wear and tear caught up with Thiago as he was starting to show off his abilities and adjust to the physical demands of the Premier League, and he started to have fitness issues. Although he had to leave his career too soon, he hopes to use his experience to become one of the next great coaches, just like Xabi Alonso did.
