Brazilian star Neymar admitted Friday he could never reach Pele's level and weighed into a row between the footballing legend and Diego Maradona, saying Lionel Messi is the best in the world. The top-rated 19-year-old Neymar, who has been at the center of a row between Pele and Maradona over whether he is better than Barca ace Messi, said the reigning world player of the year was superior “at the moment”. “I do believe Messi is the best player at the moment,” the talented Santos striker told a packed press conference in Japan after jetting in for the Club World Cup, where he could come face-to-face with Messi in the final. And Neymar dismissed any comparisons with the iconic Pele, who remains idolized for his exploits for Santos and Brazil. “He's the one and only, he's the king of football,” said Neymar, sporting his trademark blond mohawk. “To reach his level is something I don't think I can do.” Neymar has been described as technically better than Messi by Pele, earning a mocking response from Argentine great Maradona, who said the Brazilian must have mixed up his medication. The Club World Cup has been billed as a clash between Argentina's Messi, shortlisted once again for the Ballon D'Or, and his exciting young challenger from Brazil. Neymar also batted away repeated questions about his future after reportedly being targeted by a series of top European clubs including Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid. Neymar, who last month signed a two-year contract extension with South American champions Santos, said he had nothing to prove at the world club tournament. “For me, I'm not trying to prove anything here,” the Brazilian international said. “I'm here to contribute to the team and win the title.” His Santos side opens its campaign against either Kashiwa Reysol of Japan or Mexico's Monterrey Wednesday, with a place in the final – most likely against European champions Barcelona – up for grabs. The world title is much coveted by South American clubs, while for Barcelona, which won the trophy two years ago, it is seen as more of a distraction from its league battle with Real Madrid. Neymar, who has been earmarked as the great hope to revive the fortunes of the Brazilian national team, also admitted that he had been taken aback by the adulation he had received in Japan. “I'm on the other side of the globe but so many people seem to know me and love me,” he said. “It's been a long time since we won the Libertadores Cup,” Neymar told reporters. “But we've been working towards the Club World Cup from the second half of our season.” Neymar acknowledged Adriano would be “sorely missed” but showed no lack of confidence about the team's chances of lifting the trophy. “I don't have a special approach to the game,” said the Brazilian league's Player of the Year.
