Lionel Messi believes Barcelona team-mate Neymar has developed into a more complete player since their meeting in the Club World Cup final in 2011.
The Brazilian was regarded as an unproven teenager when his Santos team took on Pep Guardiola s Barca four years ago, losing 4-0.
However, Neymar has since established himself as one of the world s top players following his move to Camp Nou, recognised by his inclusion alongside Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the shortlist for the 2015 FIFA Ballon d Or.
And four-time Ballon d Or winner Messi has been impressed by his team-mate s progress.
A lot of time s gone by since then and I ve witnessed his enormous growth, both as a footballer and as a person, Messi told FIFA.com.
Back then he was already a really great player and now he s even more so he s much more complete.
Truthfully, it s a pleasure and a privilege to have him alongside us now.
Messi acknowledged the Catalan side now have a more direct approach under Luis Enrique, but insists their possession-based philosophy remains integral.
We ve changed a little bit. We ve become a more vertical team. Of course, we ve not lost our ideology of keeping hold of the ball, that s our trademark and our priority: to control the play and keep possession as much as we possibly can, he added.
But now we ve incorporated the idea that, with just a couple of touches, we can get in front of the opposition s goal.
Before it was about getting there using more elaborate build-up play.
