It has been an argument put forward by Brazilian supporters for years, yet Cafu has reiterated his belief that Neymar is technically better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and only needs to assume the responsibility of being a leader to match them.
Neymar left Barcelona for PSG in search of becoming the main figure at a club, yet he has since found Kylian Mbappe taking his spotlight and Messi himself following him to the Parc des Princes.
Having never been able to yet fulfil the potential that many saw would take him to the Ballon d'Or, Neymar remains one of the modern era's true greats.
"Neymar is technically better than Messi, better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but he must assume the responsibility of a leader," Cafu explained at the MARCA Sports Weekend event in Seville.
"One must dedicate themselves 100 percent to football, I'm not better than Neymar, but I am better than other right-backs because I dedicated myself to that. He [Neymar] has to become a captain."
Cafu's own career saw him represent both Roma and AC Milan at the highest level, as well as winning a World Cup with his national team, yet he has admitted that he could have formed a dynamic full-back partnership with Roberto Carlos at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
"I had the opportunity to play for Real Madrid in 1992, when Sao Paulo played for its first world title," Cafu added.
"They came after me, they talked to me and the club, but Sao Paulo didn't release me because they wanted me to play in the Intercontinental Cup.
"There was a pre-agreement between Real Madrid and Sao Paulo for Vitor to go to Madrid and then return and for me to go to Madrid, but Sao Paulo had the Copa Libertadores and the World Championship, they wouldn't let me leave anymore."
IBRAHIMLM10
67
No one is better than messi and Ronaldo...๐๐๐๐
Desmondeyum
65
Neymar is the most disrespected player in this app !!! If you've watched him play atleast once you'll get to know about his game style...
Antiberry
41
Neymar better than Messi?
Jacubi
32
The same smile that gives joy to his fans, literally sends chills ๐ฅถ to the bones of his haters and rivals.
kg-4991
19
Well it's actually true. Neymar's technical ability is second to no one in the world right now. Technical ability alone won't make a player better than anyone else. It's the decision making and precision. Messi and Ronaldo excel in precision. While Messi is technically and precision wise the best player ever to play the ball, Ronaldo's flair and charisma in positional play, leadership and work off the ball tunes the team's game altogether. Neymar have neither the spirit to force the team rise to his quality nor the precision and decision making skills to rise to level of the greats that played in yellow colours. Neymar is a good leader on the pitch making his team's jobs easier. But he keep the ball more than necessary and slows down the game. Top defenders were able to plot the predictability of his game which is pushing him down the pecking order among the top most players in football right now.
Zasclmnrtu
14
you're deluded asf
I think your eyes are deluded. Because this GIF speaks the truth