What I Feel About Neymar, Ronaldo, Messi – Cafu
By Oma Akatugba, Berlin Germany
The Laureus World Sports Awards 2020 held in German capital city, Berlin was one that had an assembly of the biggest names in sports. Speaking with Brazilian and AC Milan legend, Marcos Evangelista de Morais aka Cafu at the awards ceremony, he told Omasports a variety of issues including what he thinks about Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and his compatriot, Neymar.
Cafu, who was all smile at the event spoke in an interview and below were his answers to the few questions he was asked.
What’s The Best Moment Of Your Career?
The best moment of my career was raising the FIFA cup in 2002 (pointing to a poster of him holding the FIFA World cup trophy). We had a complete team, good defence good attack, the team was at its best and for my colleagues as well, it remains our best moment ever.
What is the difference between that 1994, 2002 team and the current one?
In 1994, Brazil were champions. This current team hasn’t quite reached that level yet. That is the difference, but they have the possibility to win. However, you can’t compare a team that hasn’t won and the team in 1994 and 2002 that did win.
Both teams had/have good players but why did your team win and this current failed?
They haven’t failed. We still have the World Cup coming in 2022 and they have a chance of winning it. The good thing for us was that we played together more than this team.
Neymar was touted to be the next world best while at Barcelona and then he left for PSG; do you think that affected his growth as a world-class player?
He is still amongst the best players in the world and we have huge hopes for him in the Brazilian national team for the world cup. We thought that moving from Barcelona to PSG would have given him a little lift and It was thought that collectively putting him in that leading position by PSG would have taken PSG to the top but it did not quite happen. But we are still hopeful that he will return as the Neymar we all looked forward to.
Do you agree with me that Neymar has declined since his PSG Move?
It is very clear. When he went from Santos to Barcelona and the national team, there was no doubt that he had all it took to be the best player in the world and that was when he would have been the best in the world.
You have won the World Cup but Messi hasn’t. Does a lack of the FIFA World Cup take anything away from Messi’s greatness?
It does not take the shine away from the fact that he is the best player in the world. There are many players who are very good who never or have never won the World Cup. It does not take anything away from him. For example in my case, I won the world cup two times as a captain but I was never chosen as the best in the world. That does not mean I am not a great footballer.
Who is better between Messi and Ronaldo?
Cafu (laughs). These are two players in different positions who are of extreme importance to their clubs and national teams. Messi, he gets the ball, has a good time, we all enjoy watching him play, it is impeccable how he plays but with what Ronaldo is doing at the moment, I think he is a little bit ahead of Messi.
