Wayne Rooney has sparked debate after suggesting Neymar does not belong in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo during a discussion on The Overlap Podcast.
The topic arose after Gary Neville read out a fan opinion claiming no Premier League player in history was better than a prime Neymar. The statement drew mixed reactions from the panel, including Rooney, Ian Wright and Roy Keane.
Rooney acknowledged Neymar’s quality but stopped short of placing him among football’s elite.
“I like Neymar, but I’ve never seen Neymar as a top, top player like Messi and Ronaldo, in that category,” he said. “He was good at Barcelona, but I think he was always overshadowed by Messi.”
Ian Wright shared a similar view, suggesting Neymar had the potential but fell short of reaching that level.
“He could’ve been, but he didn’t get to that,” Wright said.
Roy Keane went further, naming players he believes surpass Neymar, including Thierry Henry, while questioning whether the Brazilian did enough to justify comparisons with the very best.
“The ability is there, but did he do enough?” Keane asked.
The comments have drawn strong reactions online, with many fans defending Neymar’s peak years at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Supporters pointed to his performances and influence during that period, with some arguing he would have won multiple Ballon d’Or titles if not for Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance.
The debate continues to divide opinion, highlighting Neymar’s unique place in modern football as one of the most talented yet most scrutinised players of his generation.
Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +233 546310076.
Read Full Story
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram
Google+
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS