Neymar is a name that is quite synonymous with sheer talent and skill. Throughout the years, the Brazilian superstar has never left any stone unturned in dazzling fans with his captivating tricks on the pitch, sparking endless debates. In fact, a Brazilian legend has vocally admitted that the Al Hilal star has even surpassed the likes of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho.
“Without doubt, Neymar is already my heir”, Ronaldinho once said about a young Neymar from Santos. But Gabriel Gubela believes that the former PSG veteran is in his own league. In a recent interview with ESPN Brazil, he said, “Neymar is doing something we haven’t seen since Ronaldinho.”
Additionally, Gubela also praised the Al Hilal star’s dribbling prowess while highlighting what separates the former Santos man from both Messi and Ronaldinho. “Messi dribbles with his left foot only, Ronaldinho dribbles with his right foot, and Neymar does it with both feet,” said Gubela. While this praise from the former defender is heartwarming, do numbers alone validate Gubela’s assertion?
Taking Ronaldinho as an example, in his illustrious career spanning 547 games, the Milan legend scored 197 goals, including 8 goals from his weaker left foot. Messi, on the other hand, has netted 89 goals with his weaker right foot thus far. Meanwhile, Neymar has notched up 61 goals using his weaker left foot till now.
While the Al Hilal star trails behind Messi but leads ahead of Ronaldinho in terms of goals with his weaker foot, it’s essential to note that he’s proficient with both legs. The 31-year-old frequently demonstrates adept dribbling skills with both feet. Although Gabriel Gubela commended Neymar for his ambidextrous dribbling, Neymar himself aspires to emulate the prowess of two undisputed GOATs.
When Neymar asked for Cristiano Ronaldo’s right foot and Lionel Messi’s left foot!
In 2015, a Ballon d’Or press conference was held featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar Jr. One journalist asked Messi to talk about his rivalry with Ronaldo, to which La Pulga highlighted the Portuguese superstar’s exceptional qualities. Ronaldo also reciprocated the praise by admitting that Messi’s left foot is ‘slightly better’ than him.
At that moment, Neymar interjected and remarked, “I think I’ll take both: Messi’s left foot and Ronaldo’s right foot.” In this humble declaration, the Brazilian star subtly paid homage to the unparalleled greatness of the two iconic players. However, Neymar consistently solidified his position alongside Messi and Ronaldo, as affirmed by Gubela’s opinions.