Can you still Neymar? Players 29 and older were 11 times the best in the world | international soccer

• Messi, Thiago Silva and Tite vote for Neymar as the best in the world

• See all about the FIFA award

Neymar turns 29 on February 5. If he is the best in the world, He would be the oldest Brazilian to win the award. Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaká were younger when they won (see below).

Of the 30 editions of the ceremony, only 11 players aged 29 and over were winners. However, this has been the reality since 2016, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Modric, Messi and Lewandowski.

• Lewandowski cites Ronaldo and Romário as influences: “Magic football”

Better in 1999, Rivaldo believes that Neymar remains a strong candidate for the next few years. In an interview with Betfair.net, The former midfielder reiterated his confidence in the current National Team 10 jersey.

They conquered, by first time, the best award in the world 29 years or older the German Lothar Mattäusthe liberian George Weah, the portuguese Luis Figo, or Italian Fabio CannavaroCroatian Modric and finally the polish Lewandowski. If he triumphs in the next edition, Neymar would be the seventh.

Since he came to European football in 2013, the Brazilian from PSG has been in the Top-3 of the FIFA elections twice: in 2015 and 2017. He was fifth in 2013, seventh in 2014, fifth again in 2016, he was out from the top 10 list in 2018-2019 and ninth place this year.

Cristiano and Messi show that there is much ahead

The careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi, which set an era in the awards between 2008 and 2017, give good signs to Neymar. Both improved their performance from the age of 28. And the Brazilian has a performance (with goals and assists) similar to his until that age.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his birthday the same day as Neymar, February 5th. The best stage of the Portuguese was from the season in which he turned 29, in 2013/14, which is equivalent to the current stage of the Brazilian forward. The Portuguese won four of his five Champions, the Euro and the Nations League for Portugal and three of his five Ballons d’Or.

The Juventus forward also took a leap in his performance. The average number of goals per game went from 0.58 per game, up to the age of 28, to 0.96 today.

• Cristiano Ronaldo until age 28 (until 2012/13)
  Goals: 364
  Attend: 127
  Games: 628
• Cristiano Ronaldo, 29 years old (from 2013/14)
  Goals: 390
  Attend: 94
  Games: 406

Something similar happens with Messi. His average of goals and assists per game is higher in the current phase. However, the Argentine won five of his six Ballon d’Or at age 28 or younger. And three of his four Champions Cups also came in the first half of his career. His peak was in 2012, when he reached the incredible mark of 91 goals in the year, at the age of 25.

• Messi up to 28 years (until 2015/16)
  Goals: 508
  Attend: 213
  Games: 644
• Messi from 29 years old (from 2016/17)
  Goals: 205
  Attend: 87
  Games: 245

Look now at the comparison, in average goals, assists and participation of goals per game, between Neymar and the two stars, up to 28 years.

Until last season, the Brazilian had 372 goals and 199 assists in 597 games as a professional. He has more goals per game than Cristiano at the same stage of his career, but he is behind Messi. For Rivaldo, the PSG striker shows that he has conditions.

– It is not easy to compete with two players who score so many goals and win so many titles for so long. These are examples of consistency that reduce other chances of winning this award. Even so, Neymar still has his chance and must fight for it because he has talent for it – said the best in the world in 1999, Betfair.net.