João Neves has sparked debate after his surprising choices from an earlier interview resurfaced. The PSG midfielder picked Lionel Messi as the best player in MLS but left Cristiano Ronaldo out of his selections for Saudi Arabia and Portugal.
João Neves Picks Messi but Leaves Ronaldo Out of His Top Player Choices
Portugal midfielder João Neves has sparked fresh debate after his surprising choices involving Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo attracted attention again.
The 22-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star previously took part in an interview where he was asked to name the best players across several football leagues.
However, his answers surprised many fans because he selected Lionel Messi but did not choose his Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
The interview, originally released in April 2026, has attracted renewed attention following Ronaldo’s international retirement.
João Neves chooses Messi over other MLS stars
During the interview with MVPs, Neves was asked to name his favourite players from different competitions.
When asked about Major League Soccer, the Portuguese midfielder immediately selected Lionel Messi.
The Inter Miami superstar was Neves’ clear choice as the best player in MLS.
However, things became more surprising when the conversation moved to Saudi Arabia.
Instead of choosing Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, Neves selected João Félix.
He even described Félix as a magical player because of his technical ability.
Neves makes another surprising choice for Portugal
The biggest surprise came when Neves was asked to name the best player in the Portugal national team.
Many fans might have expected him to select Ronaldo, but the PSG midfielder gave a completely different answer.
Neves chose himself instead of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
He explained that he had already selected Portuguese players in other leagues, including Bruno Fernandes in the Premier League and Rafael Leão in Serie A.
As a result, he decided to give himself the top position for Portugal.
Ronaldo’s retirement brings the comments back into focus
The interview has gained attention again after Ronaldo announced his retirement from international football on November 5.
His departure ended a remarkable 23-year career with Portugal.
With many players paying tribute to the legendary forward, Neves’ earlier choices have become a topic of discussion among football fans.
However, Neves did not directly criticise Ronaldo or question his achievements during the interview.
His answers were personal choices rather than an official ranking of the greatest players in football history.
Nevertheless, the fact that he selected Messi, João Félix and himself while leaving out Ronaldo has created another interesting debate among supporters of the two football legends.
