Ronaldinho: Neymar is the best in the world

Ronaldinho has suggested that Barcelona attacker Neymar is the best player in the world on current form.

Neymar, along with Luis Suarez, has been in sensational form for the Blaugrana in the absence of Lionel Messi, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since September.

And ahead of the Clasico, in which Neymar will take on Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho has indicated his belief that the Brazilian attacker is the best in the world, ahead of the Real forward and his Barcelona team-mate.

"Neymar, currently on form, is the best player in the world," the former Barcelona and AC Milan player told the Daily Mirror.

The 35-year-old, whose most recent spell was with Fluminense, suggested that he had spotted Neymar's talent form an early age, when the Barcelona attacker was coming through the ranks with Santos.

"His rise has not surprised me at all. Even when he was a kid his ability was obvious. At the age he is, I still have every belief he can go on to get better and better," Ronaldinho continued.

And the Brazilian World Cup winner believes that now Neymar has reached the top, he can stay at the summit of world football for a number of years, with Messi and Ronaldo both ageing.