TalkSport and BBC pundit Danny Murphy has questioned Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar, calling him one of the all-time greats but suggesting he goes missing at times.
The 30-year-old is currently sidelined for Brazil with injury, but is hoping to return for the World Cup knockout stages.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the former England international praised the former Barcelona superstar, claiming that he was up there with the very best, but explained why he could not reach the full potential that was expected of him.
“It depends how you interpret greats, I mean yes he’s a special talent, really special,” Murphy stated.
“Has he fulfilled his potential? At Barcelona for a while he was because he was winning everything and he was contributing to that, part of one of the best front threes ever apparently.
“He’s a super talent, somebody I really enjoy watching but if he comes back [to the World Cup] and they win it and he contributes then all of a sudden he goes up another notch.
“In my lifetime he’s been one of the greats, in my era he could be for two or three games on a level and just look unplayable, then for two or three games he drops, he disappears for a bit, he doesn’t quite fancy it.”
TIF Thoughts on Neymar…
We agree that Neymar should go down as one of the greats, as his skill, trophy haul and numbers can all back him up as one of the most talented players of all time.
Perhaps without the supreme fitness or drive of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, he has not hit the same heights as them, and arguably not fulfilled his potential overall, but history will be kind to him when he retires.
He will almost certainly go down as Brazil’s all-time top scorer, and if he adds a World Cup to his multiple league titles and Champions League trophies, his legacy will surpass a number of greats to have played the game.
However, it is apparent Murphy is not convinced he can mix it with the absolute best given the criticism he did provide.