Neymar sends cruel Lionel Messi message as he reveals friendship is “on the line”

Neymar sends cruel Lionel Messi message as he reveals friendship is “on the line”

Brazilian Neymar admits his relationship with “great friend” Lionel Messi is at stake as Brazil encounter Argentina in the Copa America final.

The superstar forwards spent four years playing beside each other at Barcelona and created one of the most fearsome attacking tridents in history with Luis Suarez.

They forged a strong bond at Camp Nou which lasted even after Neymar sealed a world-record £198million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

But the 29-year-old maintains there can be no room for sentiment as he faces off with Messi at the Maracana in the early hours of Sunday morning, with both players seeking their first Copa America triumph.

“Messi is, as I’ve always said, the best player I’ve ever seen play and he’s a great friend, but now we’re in a final, we’re rivals,” said Neymar.

“I want to win and I really want to win this title, which would be my first Copa America.

“Messi has been looking for his first title with the national team for many years, and every time we [Brazil] are not present at the tournament, I cheered for him. That’s what I’ve been cheering for in the 2014 World Cup final, when he faced Germany.

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“Now Brazil is in the dispute, so our friendship is on the line. The respect between us is still great but only one can win.

“When you’re friends with someone, it’s hard to forget the friendship you have – but for example when you play video games with a friend, you want to beat him anyway. It’ll be the same thing on Saturday.”

Neymar missed out on Brazil’s Copa America fame in 2019 due to an ankle injury, while Messi has fallen short in three past finals – in 2007, 2015 and 2016.

The duo have been two of the standout players of this summer’s competition, with six-time Ballon d’Or-winner Messi leading the way for goals (four) and assists (five).

The Argentina captain’s excellent performances saw his side finish top of Group A before defeating Ecuador in the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory and Colombia in the semi-finals after a penalty shootout.

Messi, who lately turned 34, appears completely unfazed by the uncertainty over his future despite his Barcelona deal lapsing at the end of June.

Neymar, meanwhile, has chipped in with two goals and three assists for Brazil, who finished top of Group B.

The Selecao subsequently trounced Chile and Peru in the quarters and semis sequentially with back-to-back 1-0 victories.

Brazil are slight favorites to win the competition on home soil, but will be without the services of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus after he was handed a two-match ban for his awe tackle against Chile, provoking a furious reaction from Neymar.

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Neymar sends cruel Lionel Messi message as he reveals friendship is “on the line”