Sao Paulo: Brazil football great Ronaldo said that the country’s national team lacked talent, but “it is just a matter of time” before Barcelona star Neymar becomes the “world’s best player”.

“Cristiano Ronaldo and (Lionel) Messi are the best right now, but Neymar has come a long way. The move to Europe has done him good,” Ronaldo said in an interview published Sunday by the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.

Brazil “is going through a hard time in every way”, especially “in administrative and talent terms”, Ronaldo said.

“We do not have many great players. We are living with hope in Neymar, who is excellent, the country’s best, but at other times we had many others who we could rely on to play for the Brazilian team,” added the former Real Madrid star.

The striker regarded as one of the best in the world said that Ronaldinho Gaucho, Kaka, Adriano and Robinho were not able to lead the team and Neymar’s generation will now have to get the job done.

According to him, Brazil’s national team has entered a new era and won six straight matches under coach Dunga, but Brazilians are still feeling the “pain” from the squad’s awful performance at this year’s World Cup, where Germany blasted the home team 7-1 in the semifinals.

“We want to put that out of our memories,” said the 38-year-old, who was the star of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup championship team.