体坛英语新闻：Neymar better than Ronaldo at same age, says agent

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Neymar is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age, the Barcelona starlet's agent has claimed.

Sao Paulo-based player representative Wagner Ribeiro made the assertion a day after Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, said "there is no way Neymar is as good" as the Real Madrid and Portugal star.

Ribeiro used his Twitter account to rebuke the claim.

"Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo were born on the same day, February 5," Ribeiro said. "But at Neymar's age, Cristiano Ronaldo was a mediocre player.

"Right now, he only surpasses Neymar when it comes to his weight."

Neymar led Santos to the 2011 Copa Libertadores title - South America's premier club competition - at just 19 years of age.

In June he was awarded the Golden Ball for the best player during the Confederations Cup, which Brazil won with a 3-0 victory over Spain.

Ronaldo made his first-team debut for Manchester United aged 18 in 2003.His breakthrough season came in 2006-07 when he scored more than 20 goals in a season for the first time and won the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year award.