Former Word Cup winning Brazil star Rivaldo is confident Neymar will soon seize the mantle as the world’s best player. 

Rivaldo, who does not believe the star has quite reached Lionel Messi not Cristiano Ronaldo’s level just yet, remains positive the Barcelona star can reach those heights.

‘Today he [Neymar] has Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in front of him, but Neymar is doing a good job and soon he will be the best the player,’ Rivaldo told Barca TV.

‘He’s a great player and for sure he will be the best in the world. When Barca signed him I said he was a great player and that he could end up being one of the best in the world, and I think little by little he’s actually doing that.’

Barcelona completed a second successive sweep of the domestic titles on offer last term but failed to defend their Champions League crown, losing to Atletico Madrid.

‘Barca is as great as always. They’ve been playing very well for five or six years and people are very happy,’ Rivaldo said.

‘They are playing great every year, they had a good season last year. They didn’t win the Champions League, but they had a great season,’ he concluded.

Neymar was spectacular at times last season but saw his form dwindle as the season wore on as the likes of Luis Suarez and Messi picked up steam. The forward managed 24 goals in 35 appearances last season.

The Barca forward will do battle on Thursday against South Africa in the opening game of the men’s soccer event at Rio 2016.