Pele Hits Out At Neymar

By Joshua Walters

Pele has lashed out at Neymar for his showboating attitude and says the Brazilian national team poster-boy's talent is fading as a result of it.

The Brazil and world football legend believes Neymar has the quality to become one of the game's great.

Pele nonetheless insists the Paris Saint-Germain kingpin is impeding his own progress by not playing productive football but rather exhibiting moves that attract fouls and seizing every opportunity to throw himself on the pitch.

"I always said that Neymar would become a great player," Pele said.

"What has happened over the past two years, though? He started to want to come across in a different way. Not by scoring goals or doing beautiful things, no, he started to stand out by playacting and making life complicated for referees instead. That is why his image is now a negative one."

"We have spoken about it together several times. That said, without a shadow of a doubt, he is one of the best players in the world. A father does not criticise -- he educates his son."

"When I say that he is ours, I mean he is considered one of Santos' children. People think that I take him by the ear too much. I am doing it for his own good, though. I want the absolute best for him and for the Brazilian national team. I will do everything that I can to help him and to keep him moving forward."