Another sign that Neymar may be overtaking Ronaldo as the world’s second best player

For so long it was a question of Ronaldo or Messi – who reigned supreme as the best player in the world?

Now, more and more, the debate is switching to whether Neymar is on the verge of surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo as the second best footballer on the planet, after the undisputed Lionel Messi.

https://twitter.com/FCBarcelonaFl/status/667466088041439236

At the age of 23

Ronaldo: 118 goals (1 Ballon d'or)
Messi: 150 goals (2 Ballon d'or)
Neymar: 183 goals (Zero d'or) pic.twitter.com/ayQZhdbxWU

— 1960Bet Official (@1960betng) November 19, 2015

https://twitter.com/dannyanderton/status/669530689969197057

Indeed, Brazilian legend Ronaldo has even claimed that his compatriot could one day surpass the best footballer of all-time (albeit with a level of bias)…

https://twitter.com/BrazilStats/status/669878267092963329

Now it seems that Nike agree that Neymar’s star is on the rise to the such an extent that it is on the verge of outshining that of Real Madrid’s talisman.

Respected financial newspaper El Economista exclusively report that Nike are in the stages of shifting their worldwide marketing strategy to focus on the Brazilian rather than the Portuguese.

Up until now Cristiano Ronaldo has been the brand’s number one priority, but according to the Spanish periodical – which doesn’t usually concern itself with footballing tittle-tattle – 2016 will bring a clear shift in emphasis.

Neymar will head the American sportswear company’s most high-profile campaigns, and usurp his Bernabeu counterpart as their highest earner.

It is the completion of a two-year process to promote the Brazilian marvel as the ‘next big thing’.