Neymar causes a stir with his statement about Messi.
Neymar tipped his hat in admiration of Messi at the World Cup.
After Brazil’s convincing 3-0 victory over Scotland to secure their place in the knockout round, Neymar, returning to action after a long injury layoff, lavished praise on his former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Messi. In an interview with reporters, the Brazilian number 10 expressed his deep admiration for the Argentinian captain, not only for his innate talent but also for his admirable character behind the spotlight.
“He’s already outstanding on the pitch, but off the pitch, he’s even more amazing,” Neymar shared in a video interview with DSPORTS.
“Leo is a great friend of mine. He understands very well how much I care for, respect, and cherish him,” Neymar added.
Messi is playing brilliantly at the World Cup while Neymar has only played 15 minutes after returning from injury (Photo: Getty)
The deep bond between Neymar and Messi has been forged over many years of shared joys and sorrows at the club level. During the 2013-2017 period at Barcelona, this duo, along with Luis Suarez, formed the infamous “MSN” trio, sweeping across Europe and bringing a total of 8 major titles to the Catalan team, culminating in the historic treble in the 2014-2015 season with the UEFA Champions League victory. Many years later, they had the opportunity to reunite in France with Paris Saint-Germain (2021-2023), adding two more Ligue 1 titles and one French Super Cup to their tally.
In the world of football, Brazil and Argentina have always been fierce rivals, with fiery South American clashes. Even as both are shouldering national responsibilities at this grueling World Cup, the respect and bond between Neymar and Messi remain intact, proving that a genuine friendship can withstand the most intense competitive pressures of top-level sports.
