Brazilian superstar Neymar will likely end up among the Ballon d'Or finalists this year, but he insisted that he is not competing with FC Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi.

Neymar is being dubbed as the next Lionel Messi at Camp Nou, home to FC Barcelona, when the Argentine eventually calls it quits or moves to another club. The Brazilian talisman said that he is looking to carve his own path and is not necessarily trying to surpass what Messi has accomplished throughout the years.

"I don't want to surpass Messi," Neymar told Globo SporTV via ESPN. "I want to trace my own path by doing the things I have been doing, winning titles, reaching goals. I don't want to surpass anyone, I don't want to be better than anyone else. I only want to be the best that I can be."

Neymar, who has been playing alongside Messi since moving to Camp Nou in 2013, has had his share of battles with the Argentine superstar in international matches.

The 23-year-old Brazilian will face Messi again later this year when Brazil goes up against Argentina in the FIFA World Cup qualifier. Neymar will not play for Brazil against Chile and Venezuela due to suspension after receiving a red card during the Copa America, but he vowed to return strong against Argentina.

Neymar said that he is looking forward to playing against his FC Barcelona teammate. Still, he admitted that playing alongside Messi is better than competing with him.

"Messi is a big star. It is not a good thing to be playing against him, but not necessarily a bad thing either," Neymar said via Goal.com. "But I will do everything within my powers to win. It will be a tough game, but the truth is that all qualifiers will be tough."

Instead of worrying about his scheduled showdown with Messi in November, Neymar said he is focused on helping his team qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Neymar also added he is not worried about the pressure to succeed in the qualifiers after failing to bag the title at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and 2015 Copa America in Chile.

"I am not the type of person who lets the pressure get to him. I try to see it as my friend, I align with it to calm me down," Neymar said. "I know that it is a huge responsibility to be the captain, the No. 10, but I like it. I like the responsibility, the pressure and I like playing football."