Edinson Cavani names Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and 2 other legends as 'geniuses' in football

Former Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has waxed eloquent Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and Ronaldinho alongside late Argentine great Diego Maradona. The 37-year-old, who currently plays for Boca Juniors, humbly denied that he is at the level of these players, who he labelled "geniuses".

Edinson Cavani joined Boca Juniors in the summer of 2023 and has been one of their stars, scoring twenty goals in 44 appearances for the Argentine side.

In an interview with Pollo Vignolo on ESPN Futbol 90, Cavani picked his fellow South American players Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Ronaldinho, and Diego Maradona as the geniuses who lit up football.

Cavani is having a stellar season with Boca, having scored 17 goals in 28 matches for his side. In the interview, he was asked to rate his caliber as a player to which he humbly said that he is just a hard worker who refined himself.

"Do I consider myself a genius in football? No, honestly, the geniuses are: Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Neymar Jr., and Ronaldinho. I’m just a hard worker in football who kept refining myself," Cavani said.

Edinson Cavani's career started at Uruguayan club Danubio before he moved to Europe with Palermo as a 20-year-old in 2007. In 117 appearances for the Serie A side, the forward scored 37 goals to establish himself as a key player in the team.

His performances caught the attention of Napoli, who took him on a loan-plus-obligation-to-buy deal in the summer of 2010. It was in Naples that he became the toast of European football, forming a deadly triumvirate with Ezequiel Lavezzi, and Marek Hamsik. He played 138 times for the club where he scored 104 goals and assisted a further 14.

In 2013, Paris Saint-Germain broke the French transfer record to sign the Uruguayan international for a fee worth €64 million. Cavani had a decorated seven-year spell with the Ligue 1 outfit, where he scored 200 goals in 301 matches.

He won the league six times in seven seasons while also helping his team reach the final of the Champions League in 2019-20. That match was his last appearance for PSG, joining Manchester United before moving to Valencia in 2022.

"I would like to play with Lionel Messi again" - Neymar Jr.

Apart from Diego Maradona, all of Edinson Cavani's "geniuses" had spells as teammates with each other. Ronaldinho was playing for Barcelona when Lionel Messi broke through the ranks, while Neymar Jr. joined the Blaugrana in 2013.

The two were teammates at Cavani's former side PSG as well and share a special bond. Earlier this year, the Brazilian forward told ESPN Argentina that he hoped to play with Lionel Messi once again.

"Hopefully we can play together again. Leo is a great person, everyone knows him in football and I think he is very happy and if he is happy, I am too," he said.

Neymar, who is 32 years old, expressed his desire to play in the MLS before he retires.

"I don't know if I'll play in Brazil again. I'd love to play in the US, actually. I'd love to play there at least for a season," proclaimed the former Barcelona and PSG star.

While Neymar Jr. is currently playing with Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, Messi is plying his trade in the USA with Inter Miami.