Messi's injury makes Neymar deserved Ballon d'Or winner

Puskas Award nominee Wendell Lira believes Neymar deserves to win the Ballon d'Or due toLionel Messi being sidelined with a knee injury.

Messi returned to the Barcelona starting XI on November 24 for the Champions League tie against Roma after spending two months on the sidelines.

And Lira, the Vila Nova striker who is competing with Alessandro Florenzi and Messi for the goal of the year prize, argues that compatriot Neymar has been the world's top player over the course of 2015 as a whole. "Neymar," the 26-year-old told Goal when asked who deserves the Ballon d'Or. "Messi was injured and Cristiano Ronaldo is not in his best moment."

Lira has links to Barcelona's Brazilian contingent through his childhood friend Douglas, whom he lauded for his modest attitude and humble beginnings.

"Douglas is my friend since we were kids," he explained. "I've known him since I was 10, in a moment in which he was very, very poor and very humble. 

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