After a footballing magazine invited controversy by naming the PSG star as the greatest Selecao player since Pele, the Portuguese coach weighed in
Neymar will have to reach the pinnacle of success with Brazil before he can compare to Pele and other Selecao legends, according to Jose Mourinho.
The star forward has already staked a claim to being one of the best players in the world, having dominated Ligue 1 with Paris Saint-Germain when healthy and achieving statistical and team success while a member of Barcelona.
Prior to that Neymar was a standout while playing for Santos in his native Brazil – something he shares with Pele.
However, the forward’s exploits on the international stage have not matched his domestic success.
Though he has taken home Olympic Gold medal and triumphed in the Confederations Cup, success in the Copa America and World Cup have eluded him.
Neymar’s Brazil side famously stumbled to a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup, despite being the host nation.
And while Neymar was absent for that defeat with a back injury, he was present in 2018 as Belgium knocked out Brazil from the World Cup in Russia by a 2-1 scoreline, in a tournament where the star man’s theatrics when fouled grabbed more headlines than his goalscoring.
However, Placar, a Brazilian football magazine, recently named Neymar as the country’s greatest player since Pele, drawing criticism as it ignored other Selecao greats like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zico and Ronaldinho.
Asked by DAZN about the controversy, Mourinho admitted Neymar is one of the world’s best talents with an impressive track record in the club game, but that his international exploits hold him back when compared to other Brazil greats.
"Neymar is a fantastic talent and nobody can doubt that,” Mourinho said.“He came to Europe and won immediately.
“But I think they forgot players that were the best of the world at some point, such as Ronaldo and Rivaldo, just citing two, and I could remember more. They also came to Europe and were fantastic, but beyond that, they passed through this special situation in a country's life that is succeeding on the international level.
“Neymar will keep fighting to be on Europe's elite, where he already is, and this [winning with Brazil] will continue to be a dream for him"
The Brazil star will get another chance this summer to win at a major tournament when Brazil hosts the 2019 Copa America.
In the meantime, Neymar will hope to recover from a broken foot in time to help PSG finally break through in the Champions League.
EpaphrasDaniel
100
Mourinho should keep quiet. He is the type of manager that would play Neymar as the 5th wheel of his bus if he ever got the opportunity. Cut Neymar some slack. At least he has a successful playing career which you never had.
Divyansh26
88
He performs really well always for his team and he has won quite much in his career winning the UCL to domestic titles at Spain and Paris.......... He was a very vital player for the Brazil at World Cup 2014 but a rash tackle he received during his match against Colombia ended his hopes of playing further and his team lost badly to Germany .......His presence was surely felt ..........He did everything in that world cup but it ended in vain ....... Same was in this world cup too he was in good form but his team choked and while criticism fell onto him and same is at PSG too he got injured in such an unfortunate way but still he gets trolled ........ He will surely break Pele' s record for scoring.most goals for Brazil.......😊✌
joohnny10
85
psg will win the champions league and brazil win the copa america . Neymar break Pele's all-time top scorering record.
nkwaindesmondtosam
71
mourinho has started football stars watchout
Waynens
65
The argument used in favor of Neymar is that every single one of the player that people say are better than him had some other great player at their side to help they win the WC" something Neymar doesn't have at this moment.
sayantanpatra
64
Pele is one and only one......no one will be in his level.... Neymar is fabulous but Pele is the Emperor of Football...... Don't destroy Neymar comparing with Pele.... Pele was god gifted...... so everyone is requested not to support this type of comparison....
07Adhu07
53
Mourinho must win the Premier League With United to match Ferguson... Oh wait , he used all of his lives
zocbdory
49
mourinho should win against his 3rd season curse before talking about any other football matters🤦😂
Rababd
40
Neymar is a good player but then hasn't yet meet up the standard of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Romario, Rivaldo, Kaka, Robinho talkless of King Pele. As a matter of fact, what has Neymar done since his arrival in Europe compared to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, kaka and many others. Except in home club Santos. He is already 27 yet has produced nothing good compared to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Romario, Rivaldo, Kaka, Robinho in club and Nation ,so let us keep King Pele aside this comparison with Neymar. Neymar is still far back,hasn't done anything yet. Let him put more effort, may be he will manage to compare with the other Brazilian mentioned above and not King Pele.