Neymar, future Ballon d'Or winner Messi Duo sinks Rayo Vallecano.

Four-time FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi hailed his "fabulous" Barcelona team-mate Neymar as a future winner of the prestigious honour.

A year after 22-year-old Neymar's arrival at Barcelona, the two South American stars are becoming increasingly at ease with each other on the pitch. Their partnership has been one of the keys to La Liga leaders Barcelona's success so far this season with Neymar scoring four of his six goals from Messi passes.

Argentinian Messi said his partnership with Neymar was becoming increasingly efficient as he hailed the Brazilian as "a great player".

"It's the second season that we're playing together and we're starting to know each other better," Messi said. "As well this season the (Barca) strikers play more in the middle of the pitch so we...