Neymar told he is "technically better" than PSG teammate Lionel Messi

Brazilian legend Cafu has claimed his compatriot Neymar is "technically better" than both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Neymar has long been touted as the heir apparent to the pair of players most often described as the greatest ever.

Aged just 17, the forward immediately helped Santos to honours including the Copa Libertadores, scoring 136 goals in 225 games.

Many felt the Selecao star was destined to win the Ballon d'Or with his 2013 move to Barcelona expected to see him fully realise his potential.

But there was always a sense Neymar was in the shadow of Messi, despite finding the net 105 times in just 186 appearances.

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He then made the decision to leave the Camp Nou, in order to spearhead Paris Saint-Germain to European glory.

However, in his first five seasons in the French capital PSG failed to lift the Champions League, with Messi arriving in the most recent summer to help them finally get over the top.

Now 29, there is a feeling that Neymar has never quite lived up to those lofty, generational expectations.

"And while Cafu believes the PSG superstar's natural talent is better than some of his contemporaries, he has hinted that a lack of dedication has held him back.

"Neymar is technically better than Messi, better than Cristiano Ronaldo, but he must assume the responsibility of a leader," the World Cup winner told Marca.

"One must dedicate themselves 100 percent to football, I'm not better than Neymar, but I am better than other right-backs because I dedicated myself to that. He [Neymar] has to become a captain."

It's not the first time Cafu has ranked Neymar over Messi, saying last year: "Technically, Neymar is the best player in the world.

"Today, technically, nobody can beat Neymar. Not even Messi, although I am a fan of him. But he does not surpass him in terms of technical quality."

With 70 goals for the national team, Neymar is just seven behind Pele and could eclipse that record by the time they start their World Cup campaign in Qatar next year.

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And Cafu, who is the only player in history to feature in three World Cup finals, believes Neymar will be pivotal if Brazil are to lift the trophy for a record sixth time.

He added: "I speak again here, he is our greatest hope for winning a World Cup. With Neymar on the pitch, whether he wants it or not, eight opponents will stay connected to him.

"He is a reference, he makes room for others, he scores extraordinary goals, but, really, someone is missing who covers, someone is lacking the strength to fit in around him."