“If he’s physically and mentally fit, he’s by far the best” - Manchester United star makes claim about Neymar in comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has sparked debate in the football community after making an emphatic claim about Neymar’s talent in comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo. Casemiro stated that Neymar is by ‘far the best’ when fully fit, compared to any of the players he has played with, including Ronaldo.

Over his 15 years as a professional footballer, Casemiro has had the privilege of playing alongside some of the sport's greats. Most notably, the 33-year-old played alongside a host of superstars at Real Madrid, where Cristiano Ronaldo cemented his legacy. He has also played alongisde Neymar, as they both share the same nationality.

Neymar, whose injury problems have been persistent, has once again been left out of Brazil’s squad for the November internationals. The Santos forward hasn’t featured for the Brazil national team since suffering a ruptured knee ligament injury against Uruguay in October 2023.

In an interview with Globo, Casemiro was asked about his take on commentators and fans debating whether or not to call Neymar for the 2026 World Cup, to which he responded:

“I had the pleasure of playing with great players. I played with Cristiano in his best phase, when everything he touched was a goal. I played with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Marcelo, Bale, Benzema. We're talking about more than ten Ballon d'Or winners, right? And, man, it's inevitable that you put Neymar on that list. Everyone does what they want on and off the field. My lifestyle is different, more reserved. But we can't dismiss him if he's doing well. If he's physically and mentally fit, he's by far the best. I'm a big fan of him as a player. “I've known Neymar since I was 12 years old. He played for Santos, I played for Moreira (in São José dos Campos). This guy has always been very, very different. He can decide a game at any moment. It's a privilege to say that I played with Neymar. This guy is incredible. And in my day-to-day life, I know his staff very well, how he works. Everything he's done for football can't be a coincidence; you can't be like that just with talent, you have to have the work, you have to have the dedication.”

To date, Casemiro has shared the pitch with Cristiano Ronaldo 122 times, and the pair have combined for seven goals. The numbers are quite lower with Neymar, with whom he has played 64 times while combining for two goals.

When Neymar said he would like to play with Cristiano Ronaldo

Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo were domestic rivals between 2013 and 2017, playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. At Barcelona, Neymar forged a lethal combo with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, dubbed the iconic ‘MSN.’ He joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, where he partnered with Kylian Mbappe.

In an interview with GQ in 2021, Neymar expressed his desire to play with Ronaldo, saying:

"I want to play with Cristiano Ronaldo. I have already played with great players, like [Lionel] Messi and [Kylian] Mbappe, but I haven't played with Cristiano Ronaldo yet."

To date, the pair have faced each other eight times, and it’s the Brazil winger who has come out on top, winning four of their meetings, compared to Ronaldo’s three.

Edited by Ezekiel Olamide