Forlan: Neymar will be the best footballer in the world

Former Villarreal and Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan has hailed Neymar Jr as a footballing magician and stated that the FC Barcelona star will soon become the best footballer on the planet.

The Brazilian has just completed a memorable season with Barcelona, which saw him score a staggering 39 goals and strike up a critically-acclaimed partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in attack, which helped the Camp Nou outfit to secure their second treble, a feat never achieved by any other team in the history of football.

“Neymar is one of the best strikers in the world, playing in football’s best club team. I could continue to compliment him because Neymar has lived up to the hype. Other Brazilians who’ve gone to Europe haven’t always settled so quickly. Neymar has,” Forlan was quoted as saying by the Madrid based newspaper ‘AS’ on Saturday.

“He knows he’s playing alongside the best in the world. He looks at Messi as someone he can learn from. Neymar is still a level below Messi and Ronaldo and those two are likely to remain the world’s best for a few more years, but he’s also nearly five years younger than Messi and seven younger than Ronaldo.”

“He’s going to get better and I suspect he’ll be the best in the world in a few years.”

Forlan also spoke up on the Neymar controvsy during the Copa America encounter between Brazil and Columbia and advised the 23 year old to retain his discipline.

“Neymar lost the temper which has brought him success to match his talent after the Colombia game. That’s one of the small areas in which he can improve if he wants to be Brazil’s first Ballon d’Or winner since Kaka eight years ago,”

“Brazil’s players trust him in games. There has never been a (Brazil) team dependent on just one individual as they’ve had some outstanding players (in each generation), but Neymar is currently their leading player and Brazil without Neymar aren’t the same.

“(The Copa America) is weaker without him.” the ex-Uruguay international concluded.