Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappe are renowned for their dazzling dribbling skills, with Neymar’s style often reflecting the flair and skill traditionally associated with Brazilian football. At a certain point in his career, Neymar incorporated showboating into his playing style, which sometimes led to him being on the receiving end of harsh tackles.
In contrast, Lionel Messi is also incredibly skilled in dribbling but tends to use it as a means to efficiently navigate past his opponents rather than showcasing extravagant moves. While all three players excel at dribbling, they do not display the same efficiency when it comes to scoring headed goals. Surprisingly, despite his smaller stature, Lionel Messi leads in this aspect, showcasing his remarkable versatility as a player.
Neymar once said Lionel Messi was a better header than him and Kylian Mbappe
Lionel Messi is celebrated for his exceptional agility and long-range shooting abilities, and the heading has not traditionally been considered one of his primary attributes. However, the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has managed to score some remarkable headers throughout his career, showcasing his versatility and skill as a footballer.
Neymar made headlines last year when he emphatically stated that Lionel Messi was the best at heading, going so far as to suggest that he and Kylian Mbappe weren’t particularly proficient in that aspect of the game. This comment underlined Neymar’s admiration for Messi’s all-around footballing abilities. “I think that’s Messi. Me and Kylian, we’re really bad!” said Neymar.
Indeed, Neymar understands his limitations and recognizes a superior talent. In his career, the Brazilian forward has scored only 15 goals. In 2020, he openly admitted that he sometimes felt apprehensive about heading the ball. This highlights that while Neymar possesses numerous skills, heading is not necessarily his strong suit.
“The head is only good for thinking. When I play, I play with my feet. No, my headers are not bad. They are good. I can control them and finish well. But the truth is I’m a bit scared.”
Heading is not a prominent strength in Kylian Mbappe’s game either, as he has only scored nine headed goals throughout his career. Mbappe is also quite good at evasive maneuvers. His feet cannot be said to be as quick as Lionel Messi’s or Neymar’s, but he’s also a great dribbler.
Neymar chose himself above Messi, Mbappe as the best singer
In a humorous interview from 2021, Neymar was posed with the question of who the “most popular player among women” was among himself, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe. The 31-year-old playfully selected the Frenchman, describing him as “handsome.”
Emphatically, Neymar said, “He’s handsome, he’s very successful.”
However, Neymar, who also revealed the dark side of his time at PSG, humorously chose himself as the best singer when compared to Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. It’s always fun to see players engage in playful banter and share their opinions on various non-football-related topics.
What do you think of Neymar sharing these traits about his former teammates? Make sure to tell us what you think in the comments.
