Neymar opens up touchingly about Messi on his birthday, affirming he is a better person off the field than his football skills.
25 June 2026 GMT+7 Neymar The Brazilian national team superstar opened up about his former teammate and close brotherly friend, Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina's national team, on the occasion of his 39th birthday.
This occurred during a post-match interview after Neymar returned from injury to play for the Samba team for the first time in the 2026 World Cup tournament, when reporters asked him about Messi on his birthday.
Neymar said, "Messi is someone who, off the field, is even better as a person."
Reporter: "On the field, he’s already amazing. Just imagine how he is off the field!"
Neymar replied, "Exactly. That's why I'm very happy to have met and played football alongside him. He's one of the most wonderful friends. We talk often; just a couple of days ago we spoke, and he knows very well how much I love him."
In the fiercely contested group stage of the 2026 World Cup, these two South American giants have performed excellently and have secured their spots in the knockout round (last 32 teams).
Brazil, coached by Carlo Ancelotti, recently showed strong form by defeating Scotland 3-0, with Vinícius Júnior scoring twice. Brazil has collected 7 points, topping Group C, with the good news that Neymar returned to the field for the final 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, defending champions Argentina remain firmly on track to defend their title, with 39-year-old Lionel Messi still a key figure in their attack and competing closely with Brazil's Vinícius Júnior for the tournament's top scorer award.