Lionel Messi tips 'fabulous' Neymar as future Ballon d'Or winner

Four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi has declared Barcelona team-mate Neymar as a future Ballon d'Or winner.

Describing 22-year-old Neymar as fabulous, the Argentine Messi said his partnership with the former was becoming increasingly efficient, reports Sport24.

Messi also said that both have a very good relationship on and off the field.

Messi won the Ballon d'Or title four times between 2009 and 2012, but lost his crown last year to Real Madrid's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

He insisted that thoughts of reclaiming the title were far from his mind.