THERE IS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT NEYMAR WILL WIN THE WORLD CUP OVER LIONEL MESSI AND CRISTIANO RONALDO

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the talk of the football world in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup, as with anything football related these days. Many supporters are already plotting the outcome that will leave Messi and Ronaldo in a career-defining Argentina vs Portugal final. It should be noted that there is another generational great who might have something to say in regard to this matter. Neymar is best placed to enter the two-horse race at World Cup 2022.

If In a moment that will forever mark the history of this generation, when Brazil wins the World Cup, powered to victory by Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar, it will be a defining moment. There is an increasing likelihood that Messi and Ronaldo will be competing in their last World Cup at the 2022 tournament. It would be quite an experience to have the headlines snatched away by a man who has spent much of the period as a distant third place in the world's best player debate.

There is also a possibility that Neymar will be participating in his last World Cup. By the time the tournament returns in 2024, he will be 34 years old. That means the forward will be younger than Ronaldo and Messi is now, however, each player peaks at a different age. The possibility exists that Neymar will not be able to maintain the level of performance that has seen him score 15 goals in 20 games this season. Neymar's electric form is one of the reasons why this World Cup feels to be the right time for him. With his excellent recent performances and the fact that Brazil is a tournament favorite, something special may be in the offing.

Ronaldo's decline further contributes to this perfect confluence of factors. Currently, Manchester United's superstar is having his worst season since breaking onto the scene as a teenager. Despite the player's claim that there is a club-wide conspiracy to belittle him, it seems that there is more going on here. In Ronaldo's performances, we can see what it is like to have once-supernatural talent realize that they no longer possess it. Despite the fact that Ronaldo could yet surprise us, it's unprecedented for him to be offered odds of 18/1 to win the Golden Boot in a major tournament.

As of right now, Neymar is 12/1 for the award, behind only Messi, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe. There has always been more to the Brazilian's game than goals. His teammates have received nine assists from him in 14 matches this season. The complete attacking force that Neymar is, he can make the likes of Rafinha, Richarlison, and Antony perform at their best. This season, he has provided one fewer assist to PSG than Messi. Due to Ronaldo's current state of inactivity, perhaps his teammate will prove to be his most significant obstacle in Qatar. While there have been some teething problems in their first season together, the reunion of two-thirds of Barcelona's old MSN partnership has yielded promising results in France. The legacy at stake now requires that they face a head-to-head confrontation. Messi's career so far has been marred by the absence of a World Cup on his impressive resume. While Neymar has had many glorious moments as Brazil's talisman, he will be remembered for the same if he hands up his boots without winning the big prize.

By Rashmi Goel