Brazil legend Kaka backs Neymar to win the 2020 Ballon d’Or

Brazil legend Kaka has said he has confidence in Neymar’s chances of winning the 2020 Ballon d’Or but believes Paris Saint-Germain may have to win the Champions League for him to scoop the prize.

The former Real Madrid and AC Milan star, who won the coveted gong himself in 2007, believes his compatriot is more than capable of trumping Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the award. 

Neymar left Barcelona for PSG in a world-record £200million deal in 2017 in hope he could step out of Messi’s shadow and be recognised as the best player on the planet.

Kaka, who won the award in 2007, said PSG may have to win the Champions League though

However, his time in Paris has largely been turbulent and blighted by fitness problems which has subsequently narrowed his chances of ever scooping the prize. 

Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Messi have all won it in the three years he’s spent at PSG while the best he has managed is a third-pace finish in 2017.  

Neymar, who had come under fire from his own fans after failing to force a summer move to Barcelona, has enjoyed a stellar campaign so far with 15 goals and 10 assists from 18 games in all competitions. 

Barcelona star Lionel Messi is expected to be one of the favourites to lift the gong again 

Cristiano Ronaldo has also enjoyed a stellar campaign and will be a frontrunner for the award

And Kaka believes he could finally break his Ballon d’Or duck this year despite Messi and Ronaldo expected to be the heavy favourites. ‘Do I believe that Neymar can win it in 2020? He is one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about it,’ he told AFP.

‘What he needs now is to win a team title and be one of the main protagonists of this achievement. If PSG were to win the Champions League, then I think Neymar would probably win the Ballon d’Or.’

PSG face a tricky tie against Borussia Dortmund in the knockout rounds of the Champions League with the first leg taking place on February 18.