Neymar now just behind Lionel Messi as second best player in the world, says Guillem Balague

In his weekly column, Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague answers your questions and says Neymar is now the second best player in the world behind Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi.

 Neymar was at it again at the weekend, scoring twice, including a spectacular volley as Barcelona beat Villarreal 3-0 at the Nou Camp.

In Lionel Messi's absence, Neymar has become Barcelona's talisman, firing 10 goals in his last seven matches in all competitions and Balague thinks the Brazil international is now just behind his Argentine team-mate in the best player in the world rankings.

Neymar has 10 goals in his last seven games… Would he have to leave to become the world's best? Other than the absence of Messi, what has contributed to his rise in form? -Steve

Neymar was fantastic against Villarreal. If you see him play he starts on the left and comes inside a lot to get involved with the ball and he has doubled the amount of touches of the ball, assists and goals he had in the same period with Lionel Messi in the side as without him.

In the absence of the injured Messi, Luis Enrique needed someone to step up and do at least some of the job that the he does for the team. But Neymar is a striker, while Messi is the more complete player. He can play as a midfielder or a striker and you have to say Barca is a better team with Messi in the side. However, you have to say Neymar has got the ability to challenge to be the No 1 player in the world.

When Messi comes back, and it's not certain he will be ready for the Clasico, Neymar will humbly move back to the wide areas and start running without the ball. He will run in behind the opposition defences to make Messi better. It's only logical because Messi is the best in the world.

However, the next question is how long can Neymar keep doing this when he knows he has the ability to become the best? That's why there has been contact with Manchester United and there will continue being so.

Barcelona wants him to renew his contract this season but the Brazilian forward is not in a rush. That's partly down to the fact he has to decide if he wants to stay with Barcelona or if he wants to move to a club that will make a team for him.

What's interesting is that he is now the second best player in the world, in my opinion. There's Messi in first and now Neymar is in second. Cristiano Ronaldo is at a different level now. Basically he has peaked. I have said this before and got a lot of stick but I think it's pretty obvious to see. He's only scored in one third of the games this season. Ronaldo is now thinking about his future and whether he will be ruled by his heart and go back to Manchester United or be ruled by his head and move to PSG, which is recommended by everyone around him. I think he is getting closer and closer to Paris as time goes by.

If you ask me, Neymar can't be this happy in another team....