Messi v Neymar: fantastic five goals v heroic hat-trick – can the Brazilian match Barca’s star?

Lionel Messi was in outstanding form against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, scoring five, but it's a mark of the man that we almost expect the exceptional whenever he pulls on a Barcelona shirt. At just 24 years of age, the Argentinian is already spoken of in the same breath as Pele and Diego Maradona without any sense of hype. While the brilliant Barcelona star was tearing Leverkusen apart, a 20-year-old who many in Brazil are hoping will challenge Messi for the title of world's best, was scoring a sublime hat-trick. Santos attacker Neymar could be on his way to Real Madrid this summer and will attempt to outshine Messi at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but for now he's not at the level of Lionel.

Take a look at these videos and judge for yourself if Neymar has what it takes to rival Messi…

Neymar scores a fantastic hat-trick for Santos v Internacional (7 March 2012)

Messi scores five in the Champions League

Neymar aged 17, profiled on

Messi shows his skills as a child and teenager

Neymar scores the FIFA 2011 Goal of the Year

Messi scores a Maradona-like goal

Can Neymar ever challenge Messi for the title of world's best player? What about Cristiano Ronaldo? Have your say by commenting below…