Cafú backs Neymar for the World Cup, says he is better than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in one key aspect

With 37 days to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Neymar is still fighting to earn a spot on Carlo Ancelotti’s roster and help Brazil win its first title since 2002.

However, his spot is not yet fully confirmed, but Cafú, a legend of the Canarinha, had no doubts about the potential and contribution the Santos FC forward can make, even comparing him to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cafú Praises Neymar
The former AC Milan player has once again sparked debate in the soccer world by praising Neymar and ranking him above figures such as the captains of the Argentina and Portugal national teams in a key aspect.

In the run-up to a new World Cup, the former Brazil captain told The Times that, in his view, Neymar is "technically better” than both stars:

For me, Neymar was technically even better than [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi. He’s had a brilliant career.

In addition, the legendary fullback emphasized that the 34-year-old forward has everything it takes to make a difference in a World Cup, as long as he is in peak physical condition:

"Every team needs a decisive player like Neymar. If he’s in good physical, tactical, and technical shape, he can decide matches,” said Cafú. "Only Ancelotti can assess that, and only Neymar knows if he’s ready,” he added.

Unfortunately, injuries have prevented the Santos legend from playing as much as he would have liked in recent years, and his place on the national team depends largely on convincing the coaching staff led by Carletto, who has made it clear that he will only select players in peak condition. However, a lack of match fitness could be another decisive factor in Ancelotti’s decision.

The truth is that since his last game with the Verdeamarela on October 17, 2023—when he suffered a knee injury during the South American qualifiers against Uruguay—Ney has not played for the national team again.

With Santos, he just missed the Clásico against Palmeiras at Allianz Parque on Saturday due to his rule of not playing on artificial turf, although prior to that, he had played the full 90 minutes against San Lorenzo in Argentina.

With the squad announcement scheduled for May 18, Neymar will have only four matches to convince Ancelotti: against Recoleta in the Sudamericana, Bragantino and Coritiba in the Brasileirão, and again against Coritiba in the Copa do Brasil.