Messi, Ronaldo From Another Planet, So I’m World’s Best: Neymar

With all three competing in the FIFA World Cup 2018, Neymar will look to seize the “Best Footballer on Earth” tag

Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi will all look to inspire their teams in their quest for the trophy at the FIFA World Cup 2018

(Photo: AP/The Quint)

Brazilian striker Neymar has said that he is the "world's best player," given that Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo are "from another planet."

Modesty aside, I think that I am the world’s best player. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are from another planet, so I’m No. 1.

Neymar quips to Desimpedidos, a YouTube channel

More seriously, he said on 15 June that his focus was not on individual glory, but on leading Brazil to victory in the World Cup in Russia, Efe reported. The video with the original interview in Portugese has more than 1 million views.

He also said that he was completely recovered from the injury he suffered in February playing for Paris Saint-Germain, as he demonstrated during his squad's last two friendlies.

"I'm OK," he said. "I'm excellent. At first, I was afraid of even kicking the ball, but that is in the past."

The striker said that he arrived in Russia “much more mature” than when he participated in his first World Cup four years ago in Brazil, when the hosts were humiliated 7-1 defeat by Germany in the semifinal, a game Neymar missed due to injury.

Brazil will debut on 17 June against Switzerland in Rostov, going on to face Costa Rica June 22 in St Petersburg and completing the group phase on 27 June against Serbia in Moscow.

(Source: IANS)