Julio Cesar: 'Neymar best player in the world'

Former Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar has branded Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar "the best player in the world today".

Neymar, 25, has scored 11 times in 12 appearances for PSG this season, and has long been tipped to ultimately replace Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.

Cesar has paid tribute to his fellow Brazilian, although the 38-year-old jokingly claimed that Neymar was only the top player in the world as Messi "is from another planet".

"For me, Neymar is the best player in the world today," Cesar told ESPN. "Messi? I said the world; Messi is from another planet! But I think this is Neymar's moment now.

"The whole world is following him and seeing how he does, even people who don't follow football are interested in Neymar.

"They admire him, not only for what he does on the pitch but for how he carries himself off it. I've got a lot of respect for Neymar and I've had the pleasure of playing with him, of winning with him and, like a friend, I wish him all the best to win the Ballon d'Or."

Neymar has scored 53 goals in 82 appearances for the Brazilian national team.