Neymar Is 'Better' Than Lionel Messi, Says Former Argentina Coach Carlos Dibos

Former Argentina fitness coach Carlos Dibos has gone against his national football allegiances and said Neymar is a superior player to his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.

Dibos also expressed doubt in Messi's leadership skills following Argentina's 2-0 defeat to Bolivia in their 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, for which the 29-year-old was suspended.

Dibos told Argentinian broadcaster TyC Sports (h/t Goal's Joe Wright):

"

I do not think it's wrong for a player to have a dialogue with the coach as to who he prefers or would chose to have next to him, but that player has to have personality, courage, bravery, to be able to carry the team on his shoulders... that was Diego Armando Maradona.

That player has to feel that the shirt represents a huge number of Argentines and that we all want the best. Diego represented that and, for me, Leo does not.

It doesn't mean that he is bad. For me, he's among the three best players in the world, but he's not the best. Today, Neymar is better.

"

Many might agree that Neymar is outperforming his club-mate on current form, particularly after it was the Brazilian who inspired Barca's historic UEFA Champions League round-of-16 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain.

Although Messi has been aiding the Blaugrana in their quest for trophies for over a decade, his greatest international achievement remains the gold medal he helped win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Aside from that, Messi's international conquests mostly consist of near misses, such as the appearances in the finals of the 2014 World Cup, as well as runner-up finishes in each of the last two Copa Americas.

Neymar has also won Olympic gold after leading the host nation to glory at Rio 2016, not to mention winning the 2013 Confederations Cup, and his club form has made him one of the world's deadliest South Americans, per WhoScored.com:

"

Top rated Brazilians in Europe's top 5 leagues:

磊 Neymar - 8.49
賂 F. Anderson - 7.75
雷 A. Sandro - 7.66
R. Firmino - 7.55
F. Luis - 7.55 pic.twitter.com/ctARaiEVdl

— WhoScored Tipster (@WSTipster) March 31, 2017"

For an Argentinian to come out so vehemently in defence of a Brazilian player may be treated with offence by some, with the two countries having endured one of football's most heated international rivalries.

In truth, Barcelona may even be glad to see Neymar reaching a level to arguably surpass even Messi, and Football Manager researcher Paulo Freitas commented on the Brazilian's head start compared to his elite peers:

Dibos—who worked with the Argentina team between 2006 and 2008—may be correct in asserting Neymar as the better player at present, but Messi continues to encounter what seems like an unfair amount of supporters expecting him to "carry the team on his shoulders."

The Barcelona ace has already temporarily retired once in his career due to international pressures, and so long as his Argentina team-mates appear to get a reprieve in pressure, his next departure could be more permanent.