FC Barcelona target Neymar and Lionel Messi 'most talented in the world'

Ronaldinho believes Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Santos striker Neymar are the two best players in the world.

Neymar, of Brazil's Santos FC, celebrates his goal, against Brazil's Corinthians, during their 2012 Copa Libertadores 2nd leg semifinal football match held at Pacaembu stadium, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on June 20, 2012 (credit: Miguel Schincariol/AFP/GettyImages)

Many have compared Neymar to Messi over the past twelve months, with opinion split on who is the best player in the world.

Messi is widely seen as the greatest player in the game today, but Brazilian legend Pele recently claimed Neymar, who is a transfer target for Barcelona and Real Madrid, is a "more complete" player than the Argentine.

And while Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is seen by many as the player who is closest to Messi in terms of ability, former Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho, who has just signed for Atletico Mineiro, believes 20-year-old Neymar is already one of the "most talented in the world."

When asked about the two South American stars, Ronaldinho told Globoesporte: "I see Neymar as having everything, he is already one of the best in the world for me.

"I am encouraging him a lot to next be the best in the world. But of course on the other hand I have my friend Messi, who is destroying everyone.

"For me the two, right now, are the most talented in the world.

"It is great to see two world-class stars, the kids who are the men of the hour, say that when they were starting out they mirrored themselves on me. That does wonders for the ego and it motivates me to keep doing my best in the years I have left."

Neymar, who has also been linked with Chelsea and Juventus, last year snubbed a move to Europe, instead putting pen-to-paper on an improved three-year deal with Santos that ties him to the South American club until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

It is widely thought that the forward will move to Europe at some point before his contract expires, and Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro last month admitted a deal could go through in the next twelve months.

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