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.
Neymar now a more complete player
"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.
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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.
"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."
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