Neymar Admits He May Never Reach Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Heights

Neymar is already considered by many to be among an elite bracket of the world's finest footballers, but it's encouraging to see the Brazilian retains some humility in asserting he may never be considered the best.

Comparing himself to Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi, Neymar questioned whether he'd ever reach their standards when speaking to Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte (h/t Football Espana via Eurosport):

"

Cristiano and Lionel are better than any player today. It's difficult to compete with them. I don't know if I'll reach their level, but I hope to better myself each day. I always want to be better than I am.

Everything happens in time, and mine had come when I left [Santos]. I grow every day, every season. I was happy at Santos but needed a fresh start, with bigger challenges, and I hope I can remain happy. 2014 was a year of learning, there was joy and sorrow. I know I have to continue improving as I can't take things for granted. I look for more and more. That was my lesson of 2014.

"

Despite being the captain of Dunga's Brazil and marking his spot in history last summer with a €57 million transfer to Camp Nou, the 22-year-old recognises the journey ahead will be tough if he is to be deemed a great.

One can easily forget Neymar is just 22. Having impressed the world since his days as a teenager at Santos and having already scored 42 goals in 60 appearances for the Selecao, he strikes as a veteran more than a starlet.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

As such, it seems only logical the forward will continue to evolve and one day rival Ronaldo and Messi's scoring statistics, although he's unsure of that himself.

Ronaldo and Messi, alongside Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer, make up the three-man shortlist for the 2014 Ballon d'Or, an accolade for which Neymar must compete in the future in order to be considered a peer of those superstars mentioned.

For the last four years, Neymar has made it onto the 23-man shortlist for the award, which recognises the world's best player in any calendar year. However, he has thus far failed to make the final cut.

Ronaldo is the current front-runner to win his second successive Ballon d'Or this January, having led Los Merengues to Champions League glory with a haul of 51 goals in 47 games, including 17 in Europe.

Neymar may have to bide his time as the Portugal international prepares for an even more successful 2015, however, telling Spanish newspaper AS (h/t Daily Mail's Michael Gadd):

"

It would be a dream if 2015 was like 2014 or even better. It is possible to do it because Madrid is always a candidate to win the competitions it is playing in. We have a team spirit that can help us win the most titles possible and we will fight to the death to get them.

"

Despite being so young, Barcastuff illustrates that Neymar isn't far off Europe's most prolific scorers, each of whom are far closer to their playing primes:

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Most non-penalty goals in 2014 (players top 5 lgs): Messi 51 - Ronaldo 48 - Benzema 34 - Neymar 32 - Alexis 32 #fcblive [via @barca19stats]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) December 28, 2014"

It's also worth mentioning that Neymar, like Messi, has made what is often a difficult switch from another continent and adapted to La Liga in swift fashion.

Messi himself was brought to Barcelona at age 13 and had a lot longer to settle into his Spanish setting.

Neymar arguably had the tougher task of being thrown in at the deep end—a pressure he's thriving under.

With a decade or more left at the elite level of the sport, one can assume Neymar will develop and become a far more advanced talent to the one that's entertained the masses in recent years.

In a way, his humble attitude toward surpassing the world's top talents will in turn lend itself to that cause, a trait that not every wunderkind can boast.