Sport

Pastore criticizes Neymar for lack of drive, hunger in attaining high-level football

Javier Pastore, a former Argentina international, has criticized Brazilian player Neymar for not giving his all-in football and compared him to other greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Neymar was widely considered as the successor to Messi and Ronaldo’s thrones, but he never quite managed to reach their levels.

Pastore, a former teammate of Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain, claimed that the now-Al Hilal star had all the qualities a footballer can dream of but lacked the drive and hunger like other football greats.

According to Pastore, Neymar does not live for football 100%.

“If he had wanted, he would fight for the Ballon d’Or against Messi, Cristiano, and whoever, but he lives his life in a different way. He does not live for football 100%,” Pastore told French media outlet LaNacion.

“I love him very much. I have written to him quite a bit now, during his injury. At first, I expected someone arrogant, and I was wrong.”