He's worse than me. He's simply a more prominent player, that is all," comes the counter. He is Neymar, commander of Brazil and whiz. Me is Mohammed Kudus, the capable Ghanaian midfielder and expanding genius.

In September, the two players had hot trades when Brazil beat Ghana in cordial in Le Havre. "He was shielding his nation and I was guarding mine. I wasn't going to allow him to push me around. What improves him, for the time being, is that he has accomplished a great deal," he says. Then, with fire in those eyes, he gives a commitment: "I'll arrive soon."