Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. has paid an emotional tribute to his former Barcelona teammate and close friend, Lionel Messi, ahead of what is expected to be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina.
Neymar hailed Messi’s extraordinary influence on football, saying fans around the world have enjoyed watching the Argentine throughout his illustrious career.
“Anyone who loves football has enjoyed watching you throughout all these years,” Neymar said.
The Brazilian wished Messi a memorable final game in the Argentina shirt, urging him to savour every moment and enjoy the tributes that will accompany the occasion.
“Today is your last game wearing the shirt of your national team, representing your country, and I hope you enjoy every single second of it. I hope all the tributes today make you happy,” he added.
Neymar also highlighted Messi’s global impact, stressing that the Argentine’s contribution to the sport extends far beyond his home country.
“It’s not only Argentina that thanks you, the WHOLE WORLD is grateful for everything you’ve done for football,” he said.
The two stars shared the pitch at Barcelona and later became international rivals, while also forming one of football’s most celebrated partnerships at club level.
Reflecting on their relationship, Neymar thanked Messi for inspiring his own love for the game and described their time together as a historic privilege.
“Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honor to have played against you, and even more so to have made history alongside you.”
Neymar concluded his heartfelt message with a simple tribute to his former teammate:
“THANK YOU, MESSI 🐐”
