Neymar will win the Ballon d’Or inside the next two years, according to the Barcelona attacker’s agent.
The Brazil international has had a sensational second season at Camp Nou, playing a key role in the Catalan club’s treble bid by netting 38 times in 50 games in all competitions.
Consequently, the former Santos forward’s representative, Wagner Ribeiro, believes it is only a matter of time before his client surpasses Barca team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to become the No.1 player on the planet.
The star duo have won every Ballon d’Or since Kaka’s success in 2007 but Ribeiro thinks that will change either this year or next.
“Neymar has matured and grown as an athlete since his move Europe,” the agent told Goal.
“This year Neymar will feature among the three best players in the world. The award will then come naturally after that, perhaps this year or in 2016.”
Ribeiro also discussed how Neymar could have easily ended up at the home of Barca’s great rivals, Real Madrid, having had a trial at the Santiago Bernabeu as a 14-year-old.
“We went to Madrid and were there for 20 days,” he explained. “He trained every day and was unanimously approved by the coaching staff.
“He did not stay because because he, his mother and sister felt homesick so he asked to return to Brazil but Real’s proposal at that time was wonderful.”
Madrid also made a move to sign Neymar in the summer of 2013 but the striker ultimately decided to move to Catalunya.