Silva backs Neymar to 'reach the peak'

Talk of Neymar being as good as Lionel Messi and
Cristiano Ronaldo has been rejected by former Brazil
midfielder Gilberto Silva.

Gilberto Silva says Neymar is not on the same level as Lionel
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but has the ability to "reach the
peak".

Barcelona forward Neymar, after scoring 39 goals in all
competitions last season, has 13 goals in 14 games this
campaign.

His form in front of goal has proved key for a Barcelona team
that is top of La Liga despite being without Messi since late
September due to a knee injury.

Neymar's performances have also led Brazil coach Dunga to
label the 23-year-old as better than Messi and Real Madrid
forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

But Silva, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, told the
London Evening Standard: "Neymar's doing well. He’s doing a
great job for Barcelona. He can reach the peak.

"At the moment, he is not at the same level, but he is close to
Messi and Ronaldo."

Brazil face Argentina in a rescheduled World Cup qualifier on
Friday. Dunga's men have taken three points from their opening
two games having lost to Chile and beaten Venezuela.

And Silva believes Brazil need to put the 7-1 drubbing in the
2014 World Cup semi-final at the hands of Germany on home
soil behind them in order to ensure they progress to the 2018
tournament in Russia.

"Forget about Germany, they must concentrate on the World
Cup," he added. "That game was very hard. For everyone in
Brazil. It will be with us forever, we'll never forget.

"But the players must. They aren't young men anymore. They
need to move on. They need to use the frustration from that
game.

"I don't want to think they might not make it. I believe they will
qualify but it won't be easy.

"It's never easy in South America, every game will be hard.

They found that against Chile. But in this situation the players
can grow up together."