Brazil legend, Pele, has revealed that he does not consider compatriot Neymar as a truly great player.
Pele pointed out that the forward lacks defensive awareness and does not score with headers.
The 75-year-old who has won three World Cups, however accepted that Neymar was the best player in the current national team.
“Neymar is a good player, but how many goals has he scored with his head in his life,” Pele said in an interview with Placar.
“Is he an excellent player? He is, but Vasconcelos [Pele’s Santos team-mate between 1956 and 1958] was 10 times better than Neymar, without any doubt.
“Neymar is an attacker, he plays up front. That is it. He does not track back, does not organise and does not come out to play.
“It’s difficult to compare him with so many players of the past when he has deficits although within the current Brazil team, he is the main figure, the only one.”
Pele also spoke about Neymar’s team-mate at Barcelona, Lionel Messi, stating that the Argentine superstar has his weaknesses.
“Messi, I always said in the last 10 years he is one of the players I considered superior,” he said.
“But, for example, he doesn’t use his head. He predominantly uses his left [foot] and is not ambidextrous. And, today, he is the best.
“Messi has the same style as Maradona, the same kind of game. So he is lucky, because there is no one to compare him with.”
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