Orlando City and Seleção attacking midfielder Ricardo Kaká thinks it is “a matter of time” before Neymar is crowned the world’s best footballer. The current Brazil captain is on the three person shortlist alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2015 bauble, and Kaká, the last Brazilian to win the award in 2007, thinks Neymar’s time will come, even if he is beaten to the punch this year.
Since Kaká took the prize in 2007, the award has been split exclusively between Ronaldo and Messi and Neymar will look to break this hegemony. Speaking with FIFA.com, Kaká said, “It had always been a rotation: Ronaldo and Zidane won it three times, but there was always some other player – names like Figo, Ronaldinho, myself, Rivaldo, Cannavaro.
“Then comes this succession of Cristiano and Messi, only the two of them – and it is fair, for what they have been doing year after year.” Neymar is the first Brazilian to be shortlisted since Kaká and the 33 year old ex Milan and Real Madrid attacker remarked, “It’s difficult to point out a single reason for this, but it must serve to alert Brazilian football. And, truth be told, it’s no easy task to forge a Ballon d’Or winner.
“Thankfully, Neymar has improved a lot since he’s gone to play in Europe – his game is a lot more mature. Now it’s a matter of time until he reaches first place.”
