Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain talisman Neymar Jr has sent a warning message to his close friend Lionel Messi ahead of the Copa America final. Hosts Brazil will take on Argentina in the final of the 2021 Copa America after beating Colombia in the semi-finals in a penalty shootout.
The game will be played on Saturday at the iconic Maracana Stadium. He and Lionel Messi spent four years together at Camp Nou before he left for Paris Saint Germain, and they remain good friends to this day. But according to the Brazilian forward, that friendship could be on the line in the Copa América final this weekend.
The Brazilain said: “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.” The player made it known that they are friends off the pitch and everyevery outside of the pitch. He also said: “I want to win, and I want to win this title, which would be my first Copa America.”
On the other hand, Lionel Messi has been looking for his first title with the national team for many years, and every time they keep failing in the finals. Argentina lost their last Copa America finals to Chile and lost their previous Fifa World Cup final to Germany in 2014. Neymar said: “Now Brazil is in 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.”