Neymar's current form is "superb" and Brazil are getting him back at the top of his game, Argentina coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino said as praised his former player ahead of Thursday's CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match between the two South American giants.
Barcelona forward Neymar returns to Brazil action after serving a four-match suspension for a sending-off during this summer's Copa America. Martino was Neymar's coach at the Camp Nou during the Brazil captain's first season at the club in 2013-14.
Now in charge of Argentina, Martino is in agreement with Brazil counterpart Dunga that Neymar has now developed into a player who can stand alongside teammate Lionel Messi and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the world's best.
"Like all footballers, no matter how good they are, they need a time to adapt especially when the adaptation process is so big as the jump to Barcelona was," Martino said.
"It was my job to coach a very good Neymar but I consider now that with one year of experience and the confidence of having won titles -- Champions League, La Liga in Spain -- what he is doing now today transforms him almost to the level of the two players who normally we consider above all others. He is more mature and is at a superb level for his return to Brazil's national team."
Brazil struggled last month in CONMEBOL qualifying without their 23-year-old skipper, losing 2-0 to Chile but beating Venezuela 3-1 at home.
They are in fifth place in the 10-team regional table, with the top four qualifying automatically for Russia 2018 and the fifth-placed side facing a playoff.
Brazil play Argentina in Buenos Aires on Thursday and are at home to Peru on Nov. 18. Argentina, who have one point from their opening two games and are seventh in the CONMEBOL table, host Thursday's fixture with injury woes as the front three of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez are all sidelined.
"Leo's absence is always directly related to the results of the team. When we win we say we no longer have 'messidependence' and when we lose we say we depend upon him. Winning or losing, the absence of the best player in the world could never stop being important," Martino said.
"It is a relief for any [opposing] team when [the rival] doesn't have all of its players. Facing Uruguay without [Edinson] Cavani and Luis Suarez is not the same as facing them with those players, for example.
"But does that make Brazil the favourite? I don't think so. It is still a classic match and we both have important players. Both teams have great players and the conditions are great."
Neymar missed Brazil's first two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela due to a ban for violent conduct after being sent off in Brazil's 1-0 loss against Colombia in the group phase of the Copa America earlier this year.
Martino said victories for Argentina against Brazil and Colombia are essential.
"Two teams who didn't have a great start and even though Brazil won their match against Venezuela , neither side have had a good start and are going in with not only the idea of winning but also with the aim to improve their game," he said.
"These players are used to playing in big finals, derbies and important matches. We will be at the top of our game for this match."
About recent criticism regarding his coaching, Martino said: "I am not the person to speak about this situation, we have to refer to ourselves as a team, the team that play tomorrow [Thursday] and next week against Colombia. This [conversation] is tiring and a waste of time."
About Argentina's recent struggles, Martino said the only solution is to play through it.
"I have no diagnosis and it doesn't bother me and I won't modify anything," he said. "I am living with a business-as-usual situation."