Raheem Sterling names ex-Barcelona star as best player he faced ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Raheem Sterling has named Neymar ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best player he has ever faced. The Brazilian forward, who gained fame and success with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), currently plies his trade in the Middle East.
Neymar first caught the eye with Santos and the Catalans were quick to lap him up in 2013. At Camp Nou, he forged the fabled MSN attacking trio with Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi.
The Argentinean's fabled rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo was at its peak during the time. The Portuguese, who was then with Real Madrid, regularly clashed with his bitter rival in the El Clasico. The world was smitten with the two superstars and Neymar was soon eager to carve a legacy of his own.
The Brazilian left Barcelona to join PSG in 2017, with the Parisians paying a world record €222m for his services. By then, he had amassed 105 goals and 76 assists from 186 games across competitions for the La Liga giants.
While Neymar failed to replicate his true form at the Parc des Princes, he was still unplayable on his day. He went on to register 118 goals and 77 assists from 173 games across competitions.
Speaking recently, as cited by Footy Culture, Sterling named the Brazilian as the best player he has ever played against.
"The best player I have played? Neymar," said Sterling.
Neymar currently plies his trade with Al-Hilal, but his time in the Middle East has been marred with injuries.
Will there be another rivalry like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have defined an era in football. Now in the twilight of their careers, the two superstars continue to divide the world on who is the best.
Both players pushed each other to the limits of their abilities, subsequently etching one of the biggest rivalries in football. The Argentinean has a world record eight Ballon d'Ors to his name and will be immortalized in the history books after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Portuguese, meanwhile, has won the Champions League five times and is the tournament's record goalscorer (140). He has also registered over 900 goals in his esteemed career.
Football is never short of superstars, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior and Lamine Yamal signifying the birth of a new era. However, only time will tell if they can reach the heights of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.