Roberto Carlos: 'Neymar better than Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo'

Brazil legend Roberto Carlos has claimed that Barcelona ace Neymar is the world's finest footballer, suggesting that he is ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo and Messi have scooped the last seven Ballons d'Or between them, but Carlos says that his compatriot is no less of a heavyweight and believes that the 23-year-old trumps his peers.

"People are always talking about whether Messi or Ronaldo is the best, but for me it's Neymar," he is quoted as saying by AS.

"Barcelona's Neymar does a lot more than Brazil's Neymar, because the team is better established. Brazil are building a team for next year's Copa America."

Neymar netted 39 times in all competitions last term, 19 fewer than his Blaugrana teammate Messi and 22 fewer than the Real Madrid marksman.