Neymar Jr Full Interview: Few players in football history have managed to mesmerize fans quite like Neymar Jr. With his jaw-dropping skills, lightning-fast pace, and a personality as vibrant as his game, Neymar has become more than just a footballer—he’s a global icon. Over the years, he’s been at the heart of some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments, and in this exclusive interview, the Brazilian superstar pulls back the curtain on his life, career, and relationships with some of football’s biggest names.
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For the first time, Neymar speaks candidly about his legendary partnership with Lionel Messi, his dynamic (and sometimes complex) relationship with Kylian Mbappé, and the memories that still tie him to his beloved Barcelona. But this isn’t just about the trophies and the glory—it’s about the man behind the magic. Neymar opens up about the pressures of being one of the most recognizable faces in football, the sacrifices he’s made, and the moments that have shaped him both on and off the pitch.
Whether you’re a lifelong Neymar fan or simply curious about the stories behind the headlines, this interview is a must-read. It’s raw, emotional, and full of the kind of honesty that reminds us why Neymar continues to be one of the most captivating figures in the world of sports. Get ready to see a side of Neymar you’ve never seen before!
Neymar Jr Full Interview: The Brazillian opens up about Messi, Mbappe & Barcelona!
Q: What happened in 2017 & how did Messi react to your transfer to PSG?
Honestly, I didn’t go thinking that I was leaving Barcelona to become the best in the world. Even in my last week at Barcelona, Messi spoke to me and said: ‘Why are you leaving? Is it because you want to be the best in the world? I will make you the best in the world.’ And I said: ‘No, that’s not the reason. There are other things, it’s more personal and it’s not about you and me.’
And of course, financially, the offer was much better than what I was getting at Barcelona and also there were Brazilians in the new team. I wanted to play with Brazilians like Thiago Silva, Dani Alves who had just signed, Marquinhos and Lucas, all my friends. I said to myself: “I need to have some Brazilians next to me, because Barcelona no longer has any Brazilians.”
I said, ‘I’m going to go there, I’m going to take a chance,’ and that’s what happened. But it wasn’t because I wanted to be the best in the world.
Q: Your best moment as a player?
“My time with Barcelona. I won everything then.”
Q: How is your relationship with Messi and Suarez?
“To this day, we talk. We have a group of the three of us where we exchange jokes. We have a lot of admiration for each other.”
“The MSN trio was the best. We got along so well, we didn’t even have to look where the other was. The partnership we had made things more fun. When one of us scored a goal, the other would try to give him the opportunity to score a goal. When Suarez was competing for the Golden Boot with Cristiano Ronaldo, we were doing everything we could for him to score goals. Our relationship was on and off the pitch.”
Q: What did you learn from Messi?
“I learned from him on the pitch but I think off the pitch he learned from me, because he was very shy. When we would go out or do something funny, he would feel embarrassed But on the pitch I started watching him closely, and I realised that you need more accuracy than power to score goals. It’s about a step that gets you towards the goal, not just a shot.”
When I started following Messi closely, besides watching videos, I thought it was about strength or different things But when you’re with him in training, you realize he doesn’t need to be strong. He’ll get past defenders and calmly shoot the ball towards the goal, the ball going very slowly, but accurately. It’s very simple. I started trying to imitate him, and things started to work out for me. I said to myself, “Oh, this is the right way,” and so I kept going.”
Q: I think you could have been voted the Ballon D’or winner at least once. Did you feel angry about that?
“I’ll be honest, I think I was unlucky with injuries for years in a row, about 6 or 7 years. They weren’t injuries that would keep me out for two weeks, they were injuries that would keep me out for three months or even six months. That’s what hurt me. Because if you think about it, everyone who understands football knows that my peak, my best moments, were at Paris Saint-Germain. The way I was playing there, I would have definitely won the Ballon d’Or, I’m sure of that. But those injuries were the reason my career was hampered.
Of course, every player dreams of being the best in the world and having a Ballon d’Or at home. But it’s not something that’s going to ruin my life. I’m not going to say: ‘Oh my God, I didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, I didn’t achieve this!’ No, it’s not like that. It’s over, we move on.”
Q: Your most difficult moment at Barca?
“One day I felt completely hopeless. I still remember, during half-time of a match, with Athletic Bilbao. I was very angry with myself, blaming myself a lot, and messing everything up on the pitch.
I went to the bathroom and started crying by myself . I was thinking, “What is happening?” and I was so angry.
Then I heard a knock on the door. I opened the door, and Messi was there. He asked me, “Why are you crying?” I replied, “No, nothing, nothing.”
Then Dani Alves came to me and said: “Calm down, we are here to help you. We want you to play your best football, like you did at Santos, without any pressure. If you need anything, you can count on us.” He said it quickly and left.
After that, I started to feel more confident and excited to play, and things started to go well.”
Q: How is Your relationship with Mbappe?
“We have had many arguments. But he was very important at the beginning. I called him the golden boy. We had good years together. But when Messi came, I think he was a bit jealous and didn’t want me to share him with anyone (laughs😂)”
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FAQ
When did Neymar leave Barcelona?
Neymar left Barcelona in 2017 and joined PSG.
