Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas says that Neymar will one day take over from Lionel Messi as the world's best player -- although it will be difficult for the Brazilian to match the Argentine's consistent level of performances over such a long time.
Messi, 28, won his first Ballon d'Or trophy in 2009 and is tipped to take the award for the fifth time at the 2015 ceremony next January.
He is already the top scorer in both Barcelona and La Liga history, and with his club has won four Champions Leagues and seven La Liga trophies. He's also been named in the FIFPro World XI each year since 2007.
Neymar, 23, has been in outstanding form through recent months, particularly during Messi's recent injury absence, and is widely expected to make a first Ballon d'Or podium when the three names are announced on Nov. 30.
Asked by Goal.com if Neymar could ever reach Messi's level, the Argentine's long-time friend and former teammate said that would be "difficult" but the former Santos player was next in line to be the world's outstanding individual player.
"That will be very difficult, we are talking about Messi who already at 21 years old had won the Ballon d'Or," Fabregas said.
"That does not usually happen. So the level Leo has been showing for the last 10 or 12 years is incomparable with any player ever. I am young, and cannot talk about Pele or [Diego] Maradona. But I doubt that any player in history has been so important, so good, every three days, for their team, as Leo has. It will be difficult, but when Leo drops his level in a few years' time, Neymar will be the one to reign."
Fabregas said it was only natural that Neymar, who was just 21 when he joined Barca in a transfer which remains controversial today, took a while to settle at the Camp Nou and show his true level.
"[Neymar] was always going to triumph at Barca, with the talent he has," Fabregas said. "The first season, coming from Brazil so young, and having injuries, so it cost him a bit to settle in. But with his natural talent, how much he loves football, the things he can do with the ball, you already saw he would reach this level sooner or later."
Messi returned from injury as a substitute in last Saturday's 4-0 La Liga Clasico win at Real Madrid, and then scored twice and made one assist on his first start back in Tuesday's 6-1 Champions League Group E hammering of Roma at the Camp Nou on Tuesday evening.
Blaugrana defender Thomas Vermaelen told Barca TV that everyone around the club was delighted to have their No. 10 back fit.
"We are happy for Messi, and happy for us," Vermaelen said. "He is so important, everybody knows that. We missed him the last two months. We'd rather have him on the pitch than being injured. Not only the fans, but the players are very happy as well that he is back."