Neymar Technically Better Than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Says Cafu

Former Brazil captain Cafu believes his compatriot Neymar has better technical skills than his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

The two-time FIFA World Cup winner also insisted that Neymar, 24, needs a strong team around him in the Brazilian national setup if the Selecao are to succeed, per beIN Sports:

Looking at his technical skills, I would say Neymar is stronger than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo right now.

Neymar is the best Brazilian out there.

He is on another level than the other Brazilians.

But Brazil need a united team more than anything else. Only a united team can guarantee a strong Selecao.

Neymar was nominated alongside Ronaldo and Messi for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d'Or after an excellent campaign last term, but he came a distant third in the voting as the Argentinian took the gong, per Bleacher Report UK:

His star has only risen further this season, though, as he has continued to improve. He has netted 18 goals and provided nine assists in 22 La Liga matches, and the Brazilian is part of arguably the best front three of all time alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, per WhoScored.com.

For many, Neymar's rise to becoming the best player in the world is inevitable, while some believe he is already there, per the Guardian's Sean Ingle and the Mirror's Ed Malyon:

Clearly, Cafu believes the former Santos man has already eclipsed Ronaldo and Messi in some respects—quite an achievement given the superlative duo's place among the best players in history.

Since his move from Brazil to Barcelona, Neymar has helped the Blaugrana to a UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey and La Liga treble last season.

And Luis Enrique's side are well on their way to repeating the trick in 2015-16, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

While Messi, 28, is some way from retirement, he is closing in on his 30s, and Neymar is his natural successor as the Camp Nou's star man.

One thing Messi has not been able to achieve in his incredible career thus far is international success with Argentina—a 2008 Olympic gold medal notwithstanding.

Neymar is unquestionably the player who will lead Brazil in the coming years—he is already the captain—but, as Cafu notes, he will need some support if he is to eclipse Messi on the international stage.