Neymar, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>, and Cristiano Ronaldo are at the center of a heated debate after Wayne Rooney suggested that Neymar was “never world-class.” The former Manchester United star <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/wayne-rooney-delivers-harsh-take-on-neymar-jr-he-was-still-overshadowed-by-messi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">questioned Neymar’s legacy</a> despite his success at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Brazil, igniting controversy across the soccer world. In response, Brazilian legend Cafu clapped back boldly, defending Neymar and placing him above both Messi and Ronaldo in one key area.



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/wayne-rooney/">Wayne Rooney</a>’s comments have divided opinion globally. “I like Neymar, but I’ve never seen him as a top, top player. Like Messi, Ronaldo, that kind of category. He was good at Barcelona, but he was still overshadowed by Messi,” Rooney told The Overlap podcast.



Despite <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/neymar/">Neymar</a>’s career being packed with trophies, including a treble with Barcelona and numerous titles with PSG, the Englishman argued that consistency at the very top level defines true greatness. “For me, he was never world-class. He had talent, but being world-class is about doing it consistently at the very top level,” the former striker added.



Fans quickly took to social media to defend the 34-year-old Santos star, highlighting his performances during his prime. Clips of the Brazilian’s incredible goals and assists in La Liga, Ligue 1, and the UEFA Champions League circulated widely, with many asserting that his peak arguably rivaled or even surpassed several Premier League legends.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The Overlap opinions on Neymar. Just admit you never watched him ffs🤦‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/FMSXpd1TYO">pic.twitter.com/FMSXpd1TYO</a>— tmw 🔮 (@themaskedw1nger) <a href="https://twitter.com/themaskedw1nger/status/2034539734521856353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2026</a></blockquote></div> 



<h2>What did Cafu say about Neymar?</h2>



Amid the controversy, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cafu/">Cafu</a>, a two-time World Cup winner and former Brazil captain, offered a powerful defense of his compatriot’s abilities. Speaking on the Brazilian podcast Podpah, the 55-year-old claimed Neymar surpasses even Messi and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/christiano-ronaldo/">Ronaldo</a> in one crucial aspect of soccer.



“In my opinion, Neymar is better than Messi. Maybe Messi’s commitment is different. But, of these latest generations, Neymar is better than everyone, than Messi, than Cristiano. [He] has more resources, without a doubt. His technical quality beats either of them,” Cafu stated.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="CAFU é SINCERO sobre NEYMAR na COPA" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_WZ-YJip9XU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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The former defender emphasized that his comparison is rooted in pure ability rather than achievements, highlighting Neymar’s extraordinary skill set and creativity on the pitch. While the GOAT duo have defined an era through consistency and trophies, Cafu values the Brazilian forward’s capacity to produce moments of brilliance and unlock defenses in ways few can match.



<h2>The importance of being fit</h2>



Cafu also addressed Neymar’s ongoing absence from Brazil’s squad. He believes the forward’s inclusion is essential if he is fully fit. “If he’s doing well, he fits into any national team in the world. That’s a fact. There’s no debate about Neymar when he’s at his best,” Cafu explained. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/11/20104335/neymar-santos-2-1920x1080.webp" alt="neymar santos" class="wp-image-605291"><figcaption>Neymar Junior of Santos.</figcaption></figure>



He further highlighted the challenge Neymar faced over his international career: “For 15 years, he had no one at his level to share the responsibility.” Neymar’s fitness and form are now crucial, not just for club success at Santos, but for Brazil’s preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Neymar ranked superior to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo thanks to one outstanding skill as Cafu claps back at Wayne Rooney

Neymar ranked superior to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo thanks to one outstanding skill as Cafu claps back at Wayne Rooney - World Soccer Talk

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Even in the twilight of their careers,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;Cristiano Ronaldo&nbsp;continue to shape the soccer conversation. This week, Messi lit up the internet with a striking new pre-World Cup image that instantly went viral — one featuring several legends of the game, including&nbsp;Xavi Hernandez, Paul Pogba,&nbsp;Toni Kroos, Kaka, and&nbsp;Zinedine Zidane, among others, but not his long-time rival, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Ronaldo</a>. The omission sparked an avalanche of speculation among fans across social media, as many wondered why the Portuguese icon was left out of a picture that symbolized global soccer greatness.



The timing made it even more dramatic: with both Messi and Ronaldo preparing for what could be their&nbsp;final <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/world-cup/">World Cup</a> appearances in 2026, every post, gesture, or public appearance feels like another chapter in the saga of soccer’s most iconic rivalry.



The image that caused the uproar was part of a broader celebration of&nbsp;Messi’s legacy and his relationship with the World Cup, which many consider the crowning jewel of his career. After years of heartbreak in international finals,&nbsp;Messi’s triumph with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/argentina/">Argentina</a> in Qatar 2022&nbsp;not only secured his long-awaited world title but also, for many,&nbsp;ended the GOAT debate&nbsp;once and for all.



“Each piece in his collection tells the story of when Messi went from prodigy to legend,”&nbsp;Spanish Marca wrote, referring to his ever-growing list of symbolic soccer artifacts — from&nbsp;his golden boots&nbsp;to&nbsp;the match ball from the 2022 World Cup final. That historic ball, used when Argentina defeated France on penalties at Lusail Stadium, has become one of the most revered items in Messi’s personal archive.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨 Leo Messi with the new 2026 World Cup ball ⚽️🏆 <a href="https://t.co/VYCOmURHIx">pic.twitter.com/VYCOmURHIx</a>— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbicelesteTalk/status/1973895575251935649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></blockquote></div> 



Now, with the&nbsp;official ball of the 2026 World Cup&nbsp;already reserved in his collection, the 38-year-old is signaling that his story with Argentina is not quite finished. The photograph that sparked so much attention was meant to bridge the past and the future —&nbsp;a nostalgic tribute and a subtle hint&nbsp;that the world may yet see him on the grandest stage one more time.



<h2>Icons by his side — and one missing</h2>



The photo featured a constellation of legends —&nbsp;Xavi Hernandez,&nbsp;Kaka, and&nbsp;Zinedine Zidane&nbsp;— each posing with a World Cup trophy or ball from their victorious years. Standing at the center was Messi, holding his own World Cup relic from 2022, flanked by those who once lifted the same prize. It was meant to be a celebration of soccer’s most illustrious champions — a symbolic passing of the torch.



But amid the glowing nostalgia, one absence stood out unmistakably:&nbsp;Cristiano Ronaldo. Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok with the same question —&nbsp;“Where is Ronaldo?”



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">already iconic… ⚽️🏆 october 2nd<a href="https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/LXQc4dSsEf">pic.twitter.com/LXQc4dSsEf</a>— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasfootball/status/1973387906828943822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote></div>




<h2>The reason why Ronaldo is mising</h2>



According to Adidas, the image is part of a&nbsp;major upcoming advertising campaign&nbsp;that will be unveiled before the 2026 World Cup. Every figure in the photograph, from Zidane to Messi, shares two key traits:&nbsp;they are all World Cup winners,&nbsp;and&nbsp;they are all affiliated with Adidas.



That combination explains everything. Ronaldo, while one of soccer’s greatest ever,&nbsp;has never won a World Cup&nbsp;— and he remains one of Nike’s most prominent athletes. For that reason, he was naturally excluded from the promotional shoot.

Lionel Messi stirs fans with pre-2026 World Cup tribute featuring Xavi Hernandez, Kaka, Zinedine Zidane: Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not included?

Lionel Messi stirs fans with pre-2026 World Cup tribute featuring Xavi Hernandez, Kaka, Zinedine Zidane: Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not included? - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_10614" style="width: 470px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-10614" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-10614" src="/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Johnny-Heitinga-001.jpg" alt="photo: Yiorgos Karahalis | Reuters" width="460" height="276"></figure></div>photo: Yiorgos Karahalis | Reuters</div>
Dutch international right back, Johnny Heitinga, has accepted a transfer from Atletico Madrid to Everton, completing a physical just under the transfer window deadline which closed at 5pm yesterday.
It’s a loss for Atleti and a serious loss for the Champions League competition (Everton competes in the Europa League but Heitinga is cup-tied for even that). I was looking forward to the rebels — “Los Colchoneros” (“the Mattress-Makers”) — of Madrid making a strong showing this year. Perhaps not.
Heitinga — a product of Ajax — is one of the quality right backs who’s lithe movement reminds a little of Cafu in his nimbler days. A skilled handler of the ball who gives firm ball on the ground and who is capable of launching stinging balls early across the 18 from wide space. He is clever, unpredictable, not easily read and not prone to tendency. He’ll set you up going outside then, later in the match, kill you driving inside. Unlike Ashley Cole, for example, Heitinga is the kind of wide back who keeps his wide opponents busy in their own end.
Moyes brings in Heitinga to replace Joleon Lescott who was snatched by Mark Hughes &amp; Manchester City near the deadline. Lescott is a strong player, but this is at least a fair swap for the Toffees if Johnny can stay fit.
Heitinga rejoins his old teammate, Steven Pienaar, alongside whom he played at Ajax for five years. Said Heitinga, “I am looking forward to linking up with him again because he is a good player.”
Apparently, Heitinga was on a high salary in Madrid which Everton could not match (yet he now supercedes Mikel Arteta as Everton highest paid player). Nor can Everton offer Champions League competition this year. Even with these deficiencies in the bargain, a fine Dutch footballer feels the pull of the Premiership and the aura of living in Liverpool &amp; environs.
My guess is Heitinga will take Tony Hibbert’s position wide-right; in which case it is unclear who among Baines, Yobo or Jagielka and others are best suited to partner Sylvain Distin in the middle of the back. It’s the kind of signing the effects of which will ripple through a side having its difficulties not a few months after just tasting the Wembley stage of an FA Cup Final.

Heitinga Transfers to Everton

Heitinga Transfers to Everton - World Soccer Talk

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Neymar ranked superior to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo thanks to one outstanding skill as Cafu claps back at Wayne Rooney

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Lionel Messi stirs fans with pre-2026 World Cup tribute featuring Xavi Hernandez, Kaka, Zinedine Zidane: Why is Cristiano Ronaldo not included?

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Heitinga Transfers to Everton