'Me? No, the Ballon d'Or is for Messi,' Neymar says

Brazil football star Neymar has declared that he is tipping Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to win the 2012 Ballon d'Or award.

Messi is believed to one of the favourites to clinch the individual accolade after inspiring Barcelona to win four titles in 2011-12 with 73 goals in all competitions.

Neymar has often earned comparisons with Messi, but the 20-year-old dismissed the notion that he is contention for the award, insists that he expects the Barca ace to win the honour.

“Me? No, the Ballon d'Or is for Messi, who is the best in the world, there is no one like him,” Neymar told Spanish media.

“He will win it, he is the greatest. He comes up with new things after every match. Yes, yes, another Ballon d'Or for Messi. That is what there is. We all know it.”

Messi, who is Barca's all-time leading goalscorer, equalled Michel Platini in January in winning the Ballon d'Or for three years running.