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'right moment'

Neymar and Mo Salah tipped to eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at World Cup, according to Phillipe Coutinho

Ex-Liverpool man played with Egypt star at Anfield and is headed to Russia with Brazil team-mate and PSG ace

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NEYMAR and Mo Salah could eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the world’s best players at the World Cup, according to Phillip Coutinho.

Brazil and PSG hero Neymar has been trailing the pair for the last four seasons, after his breakout 2014-15 Barcelona season.

 Philippe Coutinho has backed Neymar to be the World Cup star
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Philippe Coutinho has backed Neymar to be the World Cup starCredit: EPA

And Liverpool and Egypt icon Salah rocketed to global prominence last season with 45 goals in 54 games for club and country.

Brazil No10 Neymar recovered from a broken foot to score against Croatia in a friendly on Sunday night.

And Salah, whose Champions League final was cut 55 minutes short by a shoulder injury, is in a race against time to be fit for group clashes on June 15, 19 and 25.

But Coutinho insists they could topple the Argentina and Portugal posterboys.

 Mo Salah could star in the World Cup, says Philippe Coutinho
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 Mo Salah could star in the World Cup, says Philippe CoutinhoCredit: AFP or licensors
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The former Liverpool man said: “It feels like the right moment for someone to take their chance at this World Cup.

"Messi and Ronaldo have been up there on their own for so many years.


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“I think it may be time for other players to aspire to be the best in the world - and the best at this World Cup, too.

"For me, Salah and Neymar have serious chances to do that.

“It depends on how the tournament goes, of course, but they have the talent to do it.

"Those are the players I would pick out.

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"Watching Mo Salah since then has been amazing.

"He is going to be a player who will be a big hero at Liverpool for a long time, I am totally convinced of that.

"He can do well in the World Cup, too - it all depends on how far his team can go.

"But we also know what Neymar can bring. He is a special player."

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