Willian 'Just Behind' Neymar's Level After Brazil Performances, Says Juninho

Former Brazil international Juninho Pernambucano has lauded Chelsea star Willian as being almost on a level with Neymar after he netted twice in the Selecao's recent defeat of Venezuela.

Barcelona star and national-team talisman Neymar was absent through suspension as Brazil lost to Chile before downing Venezuela in their first two World Cup qualifiers.

Willian was the key creative force for Brazil in Neymar's absence and one-time Lyon midfielder Juninho believes the 27-year-old deserves appropriate recognition, per Brazil outlet Globo Esporte (h/t Goal.com's Dejan Kalinic):

"

Willian is at a level just behind Neymar. It deserves to be analysed and treated as such. The two matches, Willian deserves greater prominence. As a commentator I feel obliged to value it. For me, the most important guy was Willian. He might even play badly against Argentina, but what he did in these two games has to be valued.

"

Brazil face Argentina in their next World Cup qualifier in November and coach Dunga will be hoping Willian and the returning Neymar can link up effectively in attack.

Willian is undoubtedly in a rich vein of form currently having netted six times in his last six appearances for club and country, per WhoScored.com.

Indeed, he is one of only a couple of Blues players to have shown any kind of form this season as the defending Premier League champions have stuttered to the point that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is now fearing for his job, per Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell:

While Willian may currently be in better goalscoring form than Neymar—the 23-year-old has netted three in his last six for Barca, per WhoScored—the Chelsea man is still some way behind his compatriot in terms of consistency.

Neymar's goalscoring record for Brazil is quite staggering. He is already among the country's top-five most prolific scorers of all time and he is only 23, per Sky Sports' Simeon Gholam.

Willian, on the other hand, has yet to even reach double figures for goals scored for his country.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk winger is enjoying one of the best periods of his career individually, and he will undoubtedly be a huge asset for both Brazil and Chelsea if he continues to perform so well.

However, despite the assertions of Juninho, he is some way behind Neymar in terms of consistent quality.