One of the greatest debates in world soccer revolves around a timeless question: Who is the best player of all time? For most fans, the answer usually comes down to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a> or Cristiano Ronaldo. The two legends have defined modern soccer, amassing records, trophies, and moments that shaped an era.



But not everyone agrees. Recently, two of the most respected figures in the game—Gianluigi Buffon and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/pep-guardiola">Pep Guardiola</a>—offered surprising perspectives. Instead of going with the usual suspects, both revealed preferences that shocked many in the soccer world.



When asked about the best player he has faced, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/gianluigi-buffon/">Gianluigi Buffon</a>, the legendary Italian goalkeeper, did not choose Messi or Ronaldo. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, the former Juventus and Italy captain reflected on his decades of experience against some of the greatest.



“I played against three generations—Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, Cristiano, Iniesta… But I would choose Neymar,” Buffon said. Adding: “For the athlete and the person that he is, Neymar should have won five Ballon d’Or awards.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250918_WST_591504_GettyImagesNeymar-Junior-2228558476-1200x675_bef603db.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-591507" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Neymar has had a difficult career since suffering several consecutive injuries.</figcaption></figure>



This statement stunned many fans, especially since Neymar’s career has often been marked by injuries and questions about whether he ever reached his true potential. For Buffon, however, the Brazilian’s mix of skill, flair, and personality sets him apart, even above the two players most often considered the greatest.


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<h2>Guardiola’s unexpected favorite</h2>



If Buffon’s comments weren’t surprising enough, Pep Guardiola also delivered a twist. Guardiola and Messi famously shared a golden era at Barcelona, rewriting soccer history with their dominance from 2008 to 2012. Their bond is so strong that many fans assume Messi would be Pep’s automatic pick for any “favorite player” question.



However, during a recent quick-fire Q&amp;A session, Guardiola was asked which player he would have loved to share the field with. Instead of picking Messi, Guardiola named another player—proving that even the most obvious choices aren’t always the ones closest to the heart.



This revelation reminded fans that while Messi and Guardiola’s connection is legendary, even Pep holds deep admiration for other soccer icons who influenced him in different ways.

Not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Buffon shocks with his pick for the greatest of all time

Not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Buffon shocks with his pick for the greatest of all time - World Soccer Talk

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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/gianluigi-buffon/">Gianluigi Buffon</a>, one of soccer’s most iconic goalkeepers, has sparked significant debate with his declaration that&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/neymar/">Neymar</a>&nbsp;is the best player he has ever played with. Buffon, who shared the field with legends like <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/zinedine-zidane/">Zinedine Zidane</a>, and played against <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>, during a career spanning nearly three decades, explained his surprising choice in a recent interview with&nbsp;Corriere della Sera.



“I’ve played with three generations: Zidane, Ronaldo, Messi, Cristiano, Iniesta… but if I have to choose one, I say Neymar,” Buffon stated. “For the player and the boy he is, he should have won five Ballons d’Or”, he said.



Buffon’s career took him to some of the most prestigious clubs in the world, including Juventus, PSG, and Parma, as well as to the heights of international success with Italy. During his stint at&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/psg/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> in the 2018-2019 season, he played alongside Neymar, who left an indelible impression on the Italian goalkeeper. Despite their brief partnership, Buffon praised the Brazilian’s unmatched creativity, flair, and personality both on and off the pitch.



The 46-year-old World Cup winner reflected on Neymar’s immense talent and lamented the Brazilian’s failure to secure a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ballon-dor/">Ballon d’Or</a>, attributing it to circumstances rather than a lack of ability. Neymar has twice finished third in the Ballon d’Or rankings (2015 and 2017), but injuries and controversies have hindered his journey to the top.



<h2>Neymar’s career: Unfulfilled potential or overlooked genius?</h2>



Buffon’s comments come at a time when Neymar’s legacy is under scrutiny. After dazzling at Barcelona, where he formed the iconic ‘MSN’ trio with Messi and Suarez, Neymar moved to France in 2017 for a world-record fee of €222 million. His transfer was intended to establish him as the centerpiece of a team chasing Champions League glory. While Neymar showcased moments of brilliance, consistent injuries and off-field controversies have overshadowed his tenure at PSG and, more recently, at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/al-hilal/">Al-Hilal</a> in Saudi Arabia.



Despite his setbacks, the Brazilian star remains one of the most gifted players of his generation. Buffon’s endorsement highlights the Brazilian’s artistry, which he believes sets Neymar apart from the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, whose careers are often measured by individual and team accolades.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241119_WST_540412_He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-1200x675_e7971412.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-540417" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-740x416.jpg 740w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-490x275.jpg 490w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2-250x140.jpg 250w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/11/He-should-have-won-five-Ballons-dOrs-Neymar-selected-as-legends-GOAT-instead-of-Lionel-Messi-or-Cristiano-Ronaldo-2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Missed chance to play alongside Messi</h2>



Interestingly, the Italy legend also revealed that he had the chance to play alongside Messi toward the end of his career. In an interview, Buffon shared that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a>&nbsp;offered him a role as a backup goalkeeper, which would have allowed him to play with both Messi and Ronaldo, following his stint with the Portuguese star at Juventus.



“I had an offer from Barcelona as a second goalkeeper,” Buffon said. “The idea of playing with Messi, after CR7, I liked it. But one day I was driving, and on the radio, they played Jovanotti’s&nbsp;‘Beautiful’. I look up, and I see the Parma tollbooth. A sign. Close where it all started.”



The veteran ultimately returned to&nbsp;Parma, his boyhood club, where he ended his career on his own terms.

'He should have won five Ballons d'Ors': Neymar selected as legend's GOAT instead of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

'He should have won five Ballons d'Ors': Neymar selected as legend's GOAT instead of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo - World Soccer Talk

After a remarkable 28-year career, Gianluigi Buffon announced his retirement from Parma and the beautiful game.



In the past, the 45-year-old said he plans to stay playing until the 2026 World Cup. Also, Buffon added that he aims to finish out his contract with Parma. That deal expires in June 2024.



However, the experienced goalie now sees a path toward an earlier retirement. Recent seasons, and aging, led to a series of injuries. Moreover, the team’s inability to make it to Serie A last season may have influenced his decision. 



Parma concluded the year with 60 points, good enough for fourth place in Serie B. Throughout the campaign, Buffon battled a variety of muscle problems. For example, a hamstring injury sidelined the legend for three months.



<h2>What next for Buffon following retirement?</h2>



<a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1686732539963006976" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fabrizio Romano</a> says an official announcement on the retirement of Buffon is imminent. Within the following several days, a representative for Buffon will meet with the club to amicably dissolve the player’s contract.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">That&apos;s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We&nbsp;did&nbsp;it&nbsp;together. <a href="https://t.co/bGvIDsoFsG">pic.twitter.com/bGvIDsoFsG</a>— Gianluigi Buffon (@gianluigibuffon) <a href="https://twitter.com/gianluigibuffon/status/1686727431887933440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Next, he’ll likely be given the position of Chief of Delegation for the Italian national team. Formerly, Gianluca Vialli held that position.



As a last major contract before retiring, the Italian allegedly rejected a rich chance to join the Saudi Pro League. He would have joined the ranks of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/list-of-footballers-signed-by-saudi-arabia-this-summer-20230728-WST-446173.html">other superstar players</a> like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema by moving to Saudi Arabia.



<h5>How many titles has he won in his career?</h5>



Buffon spent 19 of his 28 professional seasons at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/juventus-tv-schedule/">Juventus</a>, where he became a household name and won a host of Serie A titles. His career in Turin spanned from 2001 to 2018, after which he transferred to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/psg-tv-schedule/">Paris Saint-Germain</a> of France’s Ligue 1. After just one year in Paris, he left for his former side for 2019-21 and then Parma for the rest of his career.



The famous goalie had an impressive trophy haul, including 10 Serie A championships and a Ligue 1 championship. In 2006, he was a key member of Italy’s World Cup-winning squad with Andrea Pirlo and Fabio Cannavaro.



PHOTO: IMAGO / Independent Photo Agency

The legendary Italian goalie is terminating his contract in June 2024 and retiring from soccer after a staggering 28-year career.

Italian soccer's legendary goalkeeper to call it quits at 45

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Not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo: Buffon shocks with his pick for the greatest of all time

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'He should have won five Ballons d'Ors': Neymar selected as legend's GOAT instead of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

Gianluigi Buffon

Italian soccer's legendary goalkeeper to call it quits at 45