Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez has added his voice to the long-standing debate about Neymar’s legacy. The former Real Madrid star believes the Brazilian would have won multiple Ballon d’Or titles if not for the dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“In my opinion, if not for Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar would have won three Ballon d’Or. But he had to compete with these beasts,” Rodriguez said during an appearance on the Los Amigos de Edu program (via Tribuna).
This statement reignites discussions about Neymar’s place in soccer history. Despite being one of the most naturally gifted players of his generation, he has never won the Ballon d’Or, largely due to playing in the same era as two of the sport’s greatest-ever players.
Neymar’s Ballon d’Or near misses
Since being first nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2011, the Brazilian has finished in the top three twice. His closest chances came in 2015 and 2017 when he finished third behind Messi and Ronaldo.
| Season | Club | Rank |
| 2011 | Santos | 10th |
| 2012 | Santos | 13th |
| 2013 | Santos/Barcelona | 5th |
| 2014 | Barcelona | 7th |
| 2015 | Barcelona | 3rd |
| 2016 | Barcelona | 5th |
| 2017 | Barcelona/PSG | 3rd |
| 2018 | PSG | 12th |
| 2021 | PSG | 16th |
When Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a world-record $242 million, one of his main motivations was to step out of Lionel Messi’s shadow and win the Ballon d’Or. However, despite multiple league titles and domestic trophies, the individual honor eluded him, often due to injuries and the dominance of Messi and Ronaldo.
Last year, the veteran himself admitted he felt he should have won the award during his time at PSG: “I was at my best when I played for PSG. I should have won the Ballon d’Or for the way I performed there, but injuries were a problem and they hindered me.”
How are James and Neymar currently faring?
Both Rodriguez and Neymar have moved away from Europe in the later stages of their careers. The former, now 33, joined Mexican side Club Leon in January 2024, after a stint with Rayo Vallecano in Spain.
Neymar, meanwhile, returned to his boyhood club Santos earlier this year after an injury-plagued spell at Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League. Despite his setbacks, Neymar has been impressive in the Campeonato Paulista, scoring three goals and providing three assists in seven appearances.
