Cafu puts Neymar ahead of Ronaldo and Messi in terms of technique.
In an interview granted to The Times, Cafu praised Neymar, whom he regards as technically superior to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at his peak. The former Brazilian icon also believes in a comeback by the No. 10 for the 2026 World Cup.
Former captain of Brazil’s national team, Cafu did not hesitate to weigh in on the eternal debate over attacking talents. For the Brazilian legend, Neymar possessed, at his peak, a technical repertoire superior to that of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In an interview granted to the Times, Cafu praised his compatriot: In my view, Neymar was technically superior to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He had an exceptional career. A bold statement, as the Portuguese and the Argentine have dominated the world stage for more than fifteen years and are regularly regarded as the two greatest players in history.
Often placed just behind this duo in the hierarchy of the stars of his generation, Neymar retains the unwavering support of his former peers. Cafu is moreover optimistic about a possible return of the Brazilian to the top ahead of the 2026 World Cup. “Every team that has a player capable of turning a match around like Neymar needs him. If he is at his best, he can clearly influence a match.” he said.
The former right-back nonetheless notes that the final decision will not depend solely on the player: “Only Carlo Ancelotti can decide, and only Neymar knows if he is ready.” Having previously played for FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar shows impressive statistics with more than 200 goals and 150 assists at club level. He also remains the top scorer in the history of the Brazilian national team, with 79 goals in 128 caps, a testament to his enduring impact at the highest level.
