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Tag: Neymar

  • World Cup: ‘I still haven’t learned to lose’ – Neymar admits

    Neymar has admitted that he “still hurts like hell from loss” as a result of Brazil’s World Cup elimination.

    Favorites entering the tournament Croatia eliminated Brazil from the World Cup 4-2 on penalties after the game had tied 1-1 after extra time.

    Neymar, who scored an outstanding goal in extra time but chose not to take a penalty kick in the 4-2 penalty shootout loss, wrote on Instagram on Saturday that the defeat had left him “psychologically destroyed” and reiterated that sentiment in a second post on Sunday after arriving back in his native country.

    “On Brazilian soil… still hurts like hell from loss, we were so close, so close,” Neymar wrote. “Unfortunately or fortunately I still haven’t learned to lose. Defeats make me stronger, but they hurt me too much and I’m still not used to it.

    “Anyway, we have to move on… life moves us on, even if it hurts and the hurt takes time to heal, we have to move on.

    “Once again I want to thank the Brazilian people for their support and affection. Hearing from you that we fought, delivered until the end comforts a little of our pain.

    “Thank you Qatar for everything. The cup was beautiful and she had to be from Brazil to crown it all, but by God’s destiny it wasn’t.”

     

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    A post shared by NJ 🇧🇷 (@neymarjr)

    Neymar, 30, has been rumored to be playing in his final World Cup, and after the match he was hesitant to say whether he will continue to play for his nation.

    He added on Instagram: “We keep going… Now it’s to turn off the key, take advantage of family and friends, recharge energies because dealing with this defeat will be very difficult, it still hurts me A LOT! FAITH.”

    Neymar also reserved a special ‘open letter’ post for 61-year-old Brazil head coach Tite, who has stepped down from the role following the World Cup after six-and-a-half years in charge.

    “I knew you as a coach and I already knew you were very good but as a person you are MUCH BETTER!,” Neymar wrote. “I come here to openly thank you for everything, all the teachings you’ve given us… and there were so many.

    “You will always be one of the best coaches I’ve ever had or will have, I will always lift you up. We had beautiful moments but we also had moments that hurt us a lot and the latter will hurt us for a long time.

    “You deserved to be crowned with this cup. We all deserved it for everything we did and for everything we gave up to try to achieve our biggest dream. But God didn’t want it that way, patience. God has given us EVERYTHING!”

     

    View this post on Instagram

     

    A post shared by NJ 🇧🇷 (@neymarjr)

  • Neymar in line to return for Brazil against South Korea

    Neymar has resumed training in preparation for Brazil’s World Cup match against South Korea, and if the team’s medical staff gives him the all-clear, he will play.

    Since the Selecao’s 2-0 victory against Serbia in their opening Group G match, Brazil’s talisman has been absent from action in Qatar.

    Neymar left that game early due to an ankle injury, making him unavailable for the remainder of the group stage.

    The 30-year-old posted images from his return to training on social media on Saturday, along with the caption “I feel good, I knew that I would now”, and it was confirmed in Brazil’s pre-match press conference that Neymar will be available as long as he comes through a session unscathed on Sunday.

    “Neymar’s going to practice today,” Brazil coach Tite said.

    “If he practices okay then he will be playing. There’s a specific training today. He will practice and if everything is okay, he will play.”

    Tite insisted, however, the final call will be with Brazil’s medical experts.

    “We play a price to be the best, we want to be at our most competent but we never put health at risk,” Tite added when asked if Neymar would start if he came through the training session without any issues.

    “Neymar being in the line-up depends on the medical department clearing it.

    “I prefer to use my best from the start. Myself, as a head coach I have to take that responsibility, and that is my preference.”

    Tite also confirmed Danilo is available for selection, though Alex Sandro is not. Gabriel Jesus and Alex Telles, meanwhile, have been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

     

  • Brazil waiting on Neymar news as Tite dismisses idea of ‘easy’ draw

    Tite advised Brazil to use extreme caution during the World Cup’s knockout round, when they would like Neymar to return from injury.

    The Selecao finished first in Group G after losing 1-0 to Cameroon on Friday. As a result, they will play South Korea rather than Portugal in the next round.

    Brazil would now play the winner of Japan’s match against Croatia in the quarterfinals after Spain’s defeat the day before appeared to further open up the draw.

    Neymar has not yet exercised with a ball after his matchday one injury, but Brazil will feel more at ease regardless of their opponents once he returns to play.

    Team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar added: “With 72 hours before the next match, we have time on our side. We still have possibilities.”

    With or without his star man, coach Tite certainly will not become complacent, explaining: “Brazil lost to Cameroon. Portugal lost to South Korea. France lost to Tunisia. Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia. I think the results speak for themselves.

    “I think these are very strong, very tough matches. I don’t think we can think any prior situation makes it easy. We need to be very careful.

    “We were very careful with the match against Cameroon. We were. We had all of those cares, we took them. They had their merits, played vertically very well. They have merit for the victory like Tunisia and the others.

    “We can’t say it’s easier and we have an advantage. We can’t say that.”

    Tite had made nine changes to his Brazil team, selecting an entirely different XI to that which started their finals opener.

    But he said: “Who lost? All of us. Our preparation is joint preparation, our wins are joint wins, our losses are also joint losses.”

    The coach called on Brazil to “feel the loss”, saying: “The World Cup doesn’t give you a second chance, but this time it did.

    “We have to concentrate for 24 hours, suffer for 24 hours, and tomorrow we start getting ready.”

    Aside from Neymar’s development, there was conflicting news on his injuries, with Alex Sandro continuing to rehabilitate alongside the striker while Danilo is expected to practice regularly on Saturday.

    This is a timely boost because Alex Telles and Gabriel Jesus’ knee injuries from the match against Cameroon will soon be subject to scans.

  • Neymar’s father predicts star to ‘back to his best’ in time for World Cup final

    According to Neymar’s father, the Brazilian superstar will be “back to his best” in time for the World Cup championship game.

    After defeating Switzerland and Serbia in their opening two games in Qatar, the Selecao has already advanced to the round of 16 and only needs a point to take top place in their group.

    Neymar was forced to sit out until the knockout rounds due to an ankle injury he sustained during the matchday one triumph over Serbia.

    Despite Neymar’s uncertain return date, Brazil are still among the favorites to win the competition.

    The forward, though, will reportedly return in plenty of time for the World Cup final, provided Brazil advances that far. He is just two goals shy from tying Pele’s record total of 77 goals for Brazil.

    The most crucial factor is that he can return to the field and perform at his top, Neymar Sr remarked in an interview with talkSPORT through an interpreter.

    “When he was injured before and he came back again he was at his best. He will do his best.

    “Everyone knows Neymar is very important, a great influence on the field and [on] all his colleagues. When Neymar is on the field it’s totally different because he’s number one. We know Neymar’s importance to the group.

    “I believe Neymar will be in the field again in the final match and he’ll do his best to win the World Cup together with his colleagues in the Brazilian team.

    “He’ll do his best to help them and together win the competition.”

    Brazil face Cameroon in their final group game. They will meet the still undecided Group H runners-up if they do finish top.

    The Selecao are aiming to win the tournament for the first time since 2002.

  • Neymar ruled out final group game as Brazil injury list grows

    Neymar has been ruled out of Brazil’s final World Cup group match against Cameroon, while Alex Sandro has joined the superstar forward and Danilo on the injury list.

    Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar hobbled off in the 80th minute of Brazil’s 2-0 win over Serbia last week with a lateral ligament injury to his right ankle.

    The 30-year-old sat out Monday’s victory over Switzerland, in which Casemiro scored a late winner, but no official timeframe was given for his recovery.

    However, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed on Tuesday that Neymar will play no part against Cameroon, with Brazil requiring a point to guarantee top spot in Group G.

    Team-mate Danilo, who has a similar ankle problem to Neymar, will also not recover in time for Friday’s match at Lusail Stadium, while Alex Sandro is suffering from a hip injury.

    “After yesterday’s game, Alex Sandro felt pain in his left hip and was unable to continue in the game,” Lasmar said.

    “This morning he was reassessed. We took him for an MRI test, which showed a muscle injury in the left hip muscle. The player will not be able to participate in the next match.

     

    “But he is still undergoing treatment so that we can recover him as soon as possible.

    “Danilo and Neymar are still recovering from ankle injuries. Each with a different treatment because they are different injuries.”

    Neymar was fouled nine times by Serbia players, which is one shy of Brazil’s World Cup record of 10 set against Switzerland in 2018.

    He was fouled a leading 44 times across the 2014 and 2018 World Cups combined – once every 21 minutes, more often than any other player impeded on at least 25 occasions.

    With their victory over Switzerland, Brazil became the first side in World Cup history to go unbeaten in 17 consecutive group-stage matches in a run stretching back to 1998.

  • Injured Neymar hails Casemiro as ‘best midfielder in the world’

    Neymar has lauded Casemiro as “the best midfielder in the world” after the latter fired Brazil into the knockout rounds of the World Cup against Switzerland.

    After sustaining an ankle injury in the Selecao’s opening Group G match, the Paris Saint-Germain attacker was forced to watch his team’s second match from their hotel.

    In a cagey encounter, it was the Manchester United midfielder’s late strike that earned Brazil a 1-0 win, and Neymar was succinctly effusive in his praise for his team-mate after the final whistle.

    “Casemiro has been the best midfielder in the world for a long time,” the forward simply wrote on Twitter after the match.

    Having left it late to seal victory – his 83rd-minute goal was the second-latest winner for Brazil in a World Cup match, after beating Costa Rica in 2018 – Casemiro’s intervention proved crucial for Tite’s side.

    When asked by Stats Perform in his post-match press conference on whether he agreed with Neymar, Tite replied: “As a habit, I always respect opinions, but do not comment on them.

    “But I will allow myself to do so today. I agree.”

    Explaining why he elected to play the 30-year-old in a deeper position, he added: “Casemiro is a second midfielder, that’s what we saw happen.

    “He works as a central player, he’s a surprise element from the back. If Casemiro is already high, it’s easy to be marked, but when he comes from the back he can be a surprise.”

    Brazil wrap up their Group G campaign against Cameroon on December 2.

  • Use haters as motivation to come back stronger – Ronaldo to Neymar

    Brazilian legend Ronaldo has advised Neymar to put his recovery from his World Cup ankle injury ahead of the “envy and animosity” of those who have celebrated it.

    Even among Selecao supporters, reactions to Neymar’s exclusion from Brazil’s match against Switzerland and likely the following match against Cameroon have been varied.

    Some have turned against Neymar because of his support for Jair Bolsonaro, the 30-year-old PSG striker who lost the presidential race in Brazil to Lula last month.

    Despite the fact that Neymar seems to be Brazil’s most likely motivator in Qatar 2022, when the team is vying for a sixth World Cup victory, this is the case.

    With his eight goals at the 2002 finals, including two in the final against Germany, Ronaldo was the highlight of the team that won the sixth of five trophy victories.

    He described Neymar as “awesome” in an open letter on Instagram, posted on Sunday.

    Ronaldo added: “I am sure that most Brazilians, like me, admire and love you. Your talent, by the way, has taken you so far, so high, that there is love and admiration for you in every corner of the world.

    “And it is also for this reason, for having reached where you have, for the success you have achieved, that you have to deal with so much envy and malice.

    “On a level of celebrating the injury of a star like you, with a story like yours. How far have we come? What world is this? What message are we passing on to our young people? There will always be people rooting against you, but it is sad to see society on a path of trivialising intolerance, of normalising hate speech.

    “It is against this verbal violence with destructive power that I write to you today: come back stronger! Smarter! Hungry for goals! The good you do on and off the field is much greater than envy towards you.

    “Don’t forget for a second the journey that made you a world football idol. Brazil loves you! The real fans – the ones who are in favour – need your goals, dribbles, boldness and joy! Celebrate the love that comes from most of your country. You will bounce back! And may all the hate turn into fuel.”

    Neymar hobbled off in the 80th minute of Brazil’s 2-0 win against Serbia on Thursday, with medical staff announcing he sustained a lateral ligament injury to his right ankle.

    The former Barcelona forward was fouled nine times in the Serbia game, the most suffered by any player in a single game so far at the World Cup.

  • Neymar shows the worrying state of his ankle on social media

    Neymar is set to miss the rest of the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar after learning of his sprained ankle injury, which forced him off in the opener against Serbia, a match that Brazil won 2-0.

    His ankle has been plaguing the Brazilian striker for almost his entire career and has kept him out for almost 300 days since he signed for Barcelona in 2013.

    Video thumbnail

    Neymar perfectly controls a ball dropped by a drone from 35 meters

    The doctors of the Brazilian national team are aware of the problems he has there and that is why there is real concern around an area that is a torment for the player.

    Neymar’s photos on social media

    Neymar wanted to share with all his followers the state of his ankle on Instagram, where a large swelling can be seen.

    The Brazilian had to be substituted after the tackle, but luckily he was able to leave the field limping on his own feet.

    Brazil are optimistic that their star player will be available for the last 16 of the World Cup, should they confirm their qualification.

     

    Source: marca.com

  • Brazil left sweating amid Neymar injury scare

    DOHA, Qatar — Brazil are sweating over the fitness of Neymar for the remainder of the World Cup group stage after he suffered an ankle injury in Brazil’s opening win against Serbia.

    On Friday the Brazilian FA (CBF) confirmed that both Neymar and Danilo, the right-back who also injured his ankle in the same game, would miss Brazil’s next match against Switzerland on Monday. But sources have told ESPN that the pair could also miss their last group game against Cameroon.

    Neymar’s injury came after the Paris Saint-Germain forward was repeatedly fouled during Brazil’s 2-0 victory against Serbia on Wednesday night before being replaced in tears in the 80th minute.

    “Players Neymar and Danilo started treatment yesterday immediately after the game,” Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said in a video published on Friday. “This morning they were reevaluated.

    “The tests showed a lateral ligament injury, on Neymar’s right ankle, along with a small bone edema, and a medial ligament injury, on Danilo’s left ankle. The players are still undergoing treatment.

    “We can already say that we will not have the two players for the next game, but they remain in treatment with our goal of trying to get them back in time for this competition.”

    Neymar has scored 75 goals in 122 games for Brazil and is two goals away from breaking Pele’s all-time scoring record for the national team.

    Richarlison scored two goals to lead Brazil to victory against Serbia at Lusail Stadium as they aim for a record-extending sixth World Cup title.

     

  • Tite confirms ankle injury will not end Neymar’s World Cup campaign

    Tite is confident Neymar will continue playing at the World Cup for Brazil despite the ankle injury he sustained in a bruising opening contest with Serbia.

    The Paris Saint-Germain forward limped off in the latter stages of the Selecao’s 2-0 victory, which was sealed by Richarlison’s second-half brace, having been repeatedly fouled at Lusail Stadium.

    Neymar looked close to tears as he received treatment on the bench, before being pictured with a swollen ankle as he made his way to the dressing room.

    Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed the 30-year-old will undergo further assessment in the next 24 to 48 hours but Tite, who revealed Neymar continued playing a further 11 minutes after sustaining the injury, is adamant he will return.

    “[Neymar] felt this pain throughout the game, but he decided to stay on the pitch to help his team,” the head coach said.

    “So it’s remarkable that he could bear this pain while his team was playing. He stayed 11 minutes on the pitch after his injury, until the moment he could no longer continue, and he was substituted.

    “We are confident that Neymar will continue playing; he will continue playing in the World Cup.

    “I didn’t see Neymar was injured – the capacity he had to overcome it tricked me, I only saw it now in the video. When he actually dribbled, it caused that injury, and in that second goal you see when he controlled the ball that he felt it.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Brazil need to capitalise on ‘best mode’ of in-form Neymar says captain Silva

    Brazil must take advantage of having Neymar in his “best mode” at the World Cup, according to captain Thiago Silva.

    Neymar heads to Qatar in supreme form. He has directly contributed to 26 goals for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 15 and setting up a further 11 this season.

    His tally of goal involvements is the joint-most in the top-five European leagues, along with Erling Haaland (23 goals, three assists) and club-mate Lionel Messi (12 goals, 14 assists).

    With 75 international goals to his name, Neymar needs just three more to overtake Pele and become Brazil’s all-time leading scorer.

    Neymar’s injury in the quarter-finals of Brazil’s home world cup in 2014 is often cited as a major factor in the 7-1 thrashing to Germany that followed in the last four, while he struggled to carry the team in Russia four years later, with the Selecao losing to Belgium in the quarter-finals.

    But with Vinicius Junior, Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo and Raphinha supporting Neymar in attack, Silva believes Brazil have to make their attacking quality count.

    “Neymar has a good level for this competition,” Silva said in a press conference ahead of Brazil’s clash with Serbia on Thursday.

    “Now, without injury or worry, we see a better Neymar. Best of all, he is humble.

    “Our group has welcomed all of our colleagues and in my opinion they will make Neymar even more at ease.

    “We will share our responsibilities as players and that will help us move forward. I think we need to take advantage of this best Neymar mode.”

    It has been 20 years since Brazil won their fifth World Cup, and Silva – who was captain in 2014 but not in Russia – believes that only serves as extra inspiration.

    “The 2002 win is a great inspiration for all of us,” he explained. “We have images of all the World Cups we have won and that’s a source of inspiration and motivation so we can continue making history.

    “We know it’s up to us. I know those who could lift the World Cup in the past have had beautiful stories. It makes me even more motivated to honour our jersey.”

    Silva believes the blend of youth and experience in Tite’s squad is ideal, as the 38-year-old claimed his experience of captaining Brazil in their disappointing campaign on home soil has only benefitted his own development.

    He said: “Nowadays I am better prepared. Sometimes we need to learn the hard way.

    “Our coaches can tell us but in the end we are the ones who need to learn from our experiences. I am calm, I am at ease, having the trust of all my colleagues.

    “I’m now enjoying the best version of Thiago Silva. I think I’m living the best moments of my career.”

    Source: Livescore

  • City star Foden vows to show England his best form

    Phil Foden says England have not seen the best of him yet, while outlining his intentions to reach the levels of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

    The 22-year-old heads to the World Cup in Qatar on the back of a fine campaign so far with Manchester City, scoring seven goals and contributing three assists in 14 appearances across all competitions.

    Foden is looking to transfer that form to the international stage, where he feels he is yet to perform at his highest level, and refuted suggestions he is comparable to Messi and Neymar – though he aspires to be in the future.

    “The people you’ve just mentioned there are way above me at the moment, but I like to think I could be there one day,” he said.

    “It’s all about taking small steps in the right direction. I just want to take my club form into the national team. With my club form this year, I’ve been scoring a lot of goals and I want to bring that to the national team.

    “I’ve got to score in big games and big finals to be world class. I know I’m capable of doing that, so it’s something I strive for and look forward to.

    “Have England seen the best of me? Definitely not. I don’t think it is easy coming into a team and not knowing the players very well.

    “You have to learn to play with different players and what they like best – running behind, or wanting balls to feet. Just little details like that. I have had enough experience in the England team to understand the players. Hopefully I can bring that into the World Cup.

    “I definitely should have scored a lot more for England really. We have quality in every area on the pitch, so we can’t always rely on Harry [Kane] because teams are going to try to cut him off, because of how good he is.

    “It is going to take not just Harry to step up this tournament. Us attacking players are going to have to step up as well as times.”

    England commence their World Cup campaign on Monday against Iran, then tackling the United States and Wales in Group B.

  • Neymar eyeing potential World Cup final meeting with PSG team-mate Messi

    Neymar revealed he and Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Lionel Messi joke about a potential World Cup final between Brazil and Argentina in Qatar.

    Neymar and Messi, alongside Kylian Mbappe, form a fearsome front three for PSG, one that has fired them to a five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League knockout stages.

    But that alliance will be temporarily halted until PSG’s next game on December 28, as the three superstars bid to win the World Cup for their respective countries.

    While he was highly complimentary of Messi and Mbappe, Neymar jokingly hinted that he fancies his Brazil side’s chances in a potential match-up with Messi’s Argentina.

    “We don’t discuss it very much,” Neymar told The Telegraph. “But sometimes we joke about crossing paths with each other in the final.

    “I tell him [Messi] that I’ll be champion and win against him and we have a good laugh.

    “Playing with him and Kylian is a huge pleasure. They’re two greats, with Messi long considered the best in the world.

    “Kylian is a young player who’s been growing and showing his potential and still has a lot to grow. It’s always great to play alongside the greats, I’ve always preferred that because the chances of winning are higher.”

    Neymar feels Brazil are one of the favourites, but also highlighted a number of other teams he believes are capable of making the final on December 18.

    “The World Cup is full of surprises,” he explained. “You get teams that unexpectedly get very far even in the competition even if many don’t believe in them.

    “But I believe the favourites are Argentina, Germany, Spain and France. I think those four along with Brazil are fully capable of reaching the final.”

    At the age of 30, the Qatar World Cup could be Neymar’s last attempt at glory with Brazil, having fallen short in his two previous experiences at international football’s premier tournament.

    One of those was particularly painful, when Neymar suffered a back injury in a victorious quarter-final meeting with Colombia at Brazil’s home tournament in 2014.

    Neymar was ruled out of the semi-final with Germany, a match Brazil went on to lose by a humiliating 7-1 scoreline.

    But the former Barcelona forward says his career would not feel incomplete if he were to never win the World Cup, saying: “No, in my career I’ve achieved things beyond my imagination.

    “So, if it ended today, I would still be the happiest person in the world.”

    The number 10 jersey that Neymar dons for Brazil is steeped in history, having been worn by Selecao legends like Pele, Ronaldinho and Zico.

    Neymar does not experience the pressure that could come with following those Brazilian idols, declaring: “I don’t feel under pressure, quite the opposite.

    “I’m happy to be able to wear the number 10 on the Brazilian team and make history. It’s a great pride and honour to be part of the group of players that wore it and I only feel happiness about it.”

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Casemiro calls for Brazil to stay grounded amid talk of World Cup favouritism

    Casemiro has highlighted the importance of Brazil remaining grounded after being labelled as one of the favourites to win the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

    Brazil last lifted football’s most prestigious trophy 20 years ago, when Ronaldo Nazario scored eight goals as Luiz Filipe Scolari’s team triumphed in Japan and South Korea.

    However, Tite’s team have been tipped by many to end that drought this year, with the Selecao topping the FIFA World Rankings ahead of the tournament and seeing the likes of Neymar and Vinicius Junior start the club season in fine form.

    Speaking to Manchester United’s media channels, Casemiro said: “There are two sides to it. Of course, there’s no hiding from the fact Brazil are favourites, but the favourites don’t always win in football, the favourites aren’t always champions.

    “We know there are other national teams doing some great work, teams that are also favourites. Football, nowadays, speaks for itself. We know there are other teams playing very well.

    “We know our responsibility, we know we have to respect the teams we come up against.

    “It’s inevitable when we talk about Brazil, though we do this with our feet on the ground and a lot of respect for our opponents.”

    With 65 senior caps to his name, Casemiro appears a certainty to feature when Brazil open their Group G campaign against Serbia on November 24, and he could be joined by United team-mate Antony.

    The winger has scored three goals in his first six Premier League appearances since joining Red Devils from Ajax, and now hopes to make an impact for Brazil on the grandest stage of all.

    “My first call up to the Selecao was this year, so it’s a wonderful experience for me,” Antony said, being interviewed alongside Casemiro.

    “I’ve always dreamed of putting on the Brazil shirt, today I can live that dream leading up to a World Cup.

    “Putting on the national shirt, representing your country and your family is very important to me. I hope to be putting it on more and more and make history with the Brazilian national team.”

    Source: Livescore

  • Neymar hails ‘deserved’ Benzema victory in Ballon d’Or but slams low Vincius ranking

    Neymar hailed the “deserved” choice of Karim Benzema as Ballon d’Or winner, after the Real Madrid star claimed the prestigious honour for the first time on Monday.

    But the Paris Saint-Germain attacker criticised the eighth-place finish for Benzema’s Madrid team-mate Vinicius Junior, with the Brazil international declaring his fellow Selecao star should have finished in the top three at a “minimum”.

    Benzema was crowned the world’s greatest player for the 2021-22 season at a ceremony earlier this week, succeeding Neymar’s PSG club-mate Lionel Messi while beating out Bayern Munich’s Sadio Mane to top spot.

    It came after a campaign that saw him lead Carlo Ancelotti’s side to success in LaLiga and the Champions League, scoring 44 goals and adding 15 assists.

    Neymar, who was not nominated this year, took to social media a day after the presentation to hail Benzema’s victory, but added that Vinicius, another key Madrid star last term, deserved greater recognition.

    “Benzema deserved [it – he’s the] crack!” the attacker wrote on Twitter. “Now, for Vini Jr to be eighth – it’s not possible! Minimum top three!”

    After arguably the toughest domestic season of his career to date last term, Neymar looks to be back to his best this season, with nine goals and seven assists in Ligue 1 so far.

    Benzema meanwhile has struggled with fitness issues, restricting the 34-year-old to just four goals and one assist in LaLiga.

    Source: Livescore

     

  • Mario jokes Neymar is ‘boring as hell’ with on-field antics

    Neymar “is boring as hell” with his antics on the pitch but is still one of the best footballers in the world, according to Benfica midfielder Joao Mario.

    Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar had a number of running disputes with Benfica players during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw in the Champions League.

    Neymar was fouled six times at the Parc des Princes – double the number of any other player – with the Brazil international being targeted by Benfica.

    While he was unable to find the net in two appearances against the Portuguese side over the past week, the 30-year-old made an impression on Joao Mario.

    “Neymar plays well, but he can be boring as hell on the pitch,” a smiling Joao Mario told TNT Sports Brasil. “But he’s one of the best players in the world, a very talented player.

    “I think he needs to bicker with players on the field, and that’s perfectly normal. It’s a pleasure to play against him. He is someone really different, as we have seen.”

    Mbappe gave PSG the lead from the penalty spot and moved above Edinson Cavani outright as the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Champions League with his 31st goal.

    However, Joao Mario converted a spot-kick of his own to score for the second time in three outings in the competition, having failed to net in any of his first 19 appearances.

    Benfica are level on eight points with PSG after four matches, with next opponents Juventus five points worse off, meaning a draw in two weeks’ time will send them through.

    Rather than settle for second place, though, Joao Mario insists his side are aiming to finish above heavyweights PSG for what should be a more favourable last-16 tie.

    “We are two wins away from achieving first place,” he said. “This club and this team have everything to fight for.

    “The objective is to pass the group stage and if possible in first place, even better.”

  • PSG forward Neymar eyes Brazil top scorer record

    PSG’s Neymar will be chasing Brazil’s top scorer record which is currently been held by Pele.

    Brazil will take on Ghana in an international friendly tonight in Le Havre, France and the former Barcelona attacker will get the opportunity to break that record.

    Pele scored 77 goals after 92 appearances from 1957 to 1971. Neymar is currently on 74 goals after making 119 appearances from 2010 to 2022.

    Brazil has been labelled as the favourite in this encounter. Both countries are using this friendly to prepare for the 2022 World Cup which will be held in Qatar.

    Brazil head coach Tite shocked football fans when he left out Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus.

  • Neymar leads Brazil squad to face Ghana in friendly

    Brazil have announced their squad for the international friendly against Ghana later this month and it includes PSG star Neymar.

    Tite announced a 26-man squad on Friday, with the only surprise omission being Arsenal’s in-form striker Gabriel Jesus.

    Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr, Barcelona winger Casemiro and Antony, both of whom recently joined Manchester United, are all included.

    Brazil, one of the favourites for the World Cup in Qatar, will play two friendlies this month, both against African opponents.

    Their first match is against Ghana, the four-time African champions, on Friday, September 23 in Le Havre, France.

    Four days later, the five-time world champions will face Tunisia at the Parc des Princes.

    Source; Ghanasoccernet

     

     

  • ‘There’s no problem at all’ – PSG President on Mbappe-Neymar penalty controversy

    Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has stated that there is no bad blood between his star players; Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

    “There’s no problem at all. I mean, I can argue with my brother, or sister, it’s normal. But the media, because it’s Kylian Mbappé… they are good friends and they are very good team-mates. And they will always be good team-mates,” he said.

    The controversy began after Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-2 win against Montpellier on August 13.

    During the match, Neymar decided to assume penalty duties following an earlier miss from the spot by Mbappe.

    Per reports, Mbappe seemed frustrated with some teammates. The matter allegedly boiled over in the dressing rooms afterwards, requiring Sergio Ramos to step in and keep the peace.

    Soon after, Neymar was seen to have liked a tweet that said Mbappe’s new contract with the French giants had him acting like the “owner of PSG”.

    But according to Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the media is blowing the matter out of proportion.

    “No, no. There’s no problem at all. I think it’s really… I mean, I think it’s you making a problem especially, and the media,” he said.

    After the Champions League draw on Thursday where Paris Saint-Germain landed in Group H with Juventus, Benfica and Maccabi Haifa Al-Khelaifi was adamant that any supposed rift between his superstars was being overblown.

    Through three games of the Ligue 1 season, Paris Saint-Germain are the only team with three wins, and have done so with 17 goals for, and only three against.

    “It’s a good start, it’s just the start,” Al-Khelaifi said. “They need to work harder and there’s a lot of things to work on and to improve, because the season is too long, it’s just the start. We are very happy with the start.”

  • Neymar scores twice in emphatic PSG win

    Neymar scored twice as Paris St-Germain made it two Ligue 1 wins from two under new boss Christophe Galtier with a resounding defeat of Montpellier.

    While Kylian Mbappe saw a first-half penalty saved, PSG went ahead through Falaye Sacko’s own goal.

    Neymar scored from the spot and headed his second to put the hosts three up.

    Wahbi Khazri and Enzo Tchato were on target for Montpellier but Mbappe and Renato Sanches goals ensured another emphatic win for PSG.

    In Galiter’s first home game as boss, PSG dominated from the start, earning a 23rd-minute penalty after a Jordan Ferri handball.

    While Mbappe was denied by Jonas Omlin, Sacko turned the ball into his own net before Neymar continued his fine form with a double either side of the break – having scored one and set up another three in last week’s 5-0 win at Clermont.

    Former Sunderland forward Khazri pulled one back for Montpellier but goals from Mbappe and Sanches – either side of what would have been a Neymar hat-trick goal being chalked off for offside – put PSG 5-1 clear before Tchato’s superb consolation strike in added time.

    Source: BBC

  • Neymar set to ditch Nike for Puma

    For the first time in his professional career Neymar will be seen without Nike boots on after he agreed a contract to become a Puma affiliated athlete, with the German corporation breaking the bank to recruit the former Santos prodigy.

    The money Neymar has earned from his affiliation with Nike will last him a lifetime, however the relationship he has held with them since he was 13 is no more.

    A leak has emerged that in recent years Nike had paid the Brazilian international 40 million euros per season, which shows the enormity of the investment Puma must have made to tempt him.

    As one of the most marketable footballers and well-known athletes outside of the immediate footballing sphere, Neymar is a huge coup for any brand, let alone Puma.

    In recent times Puma have moved even further into the sport, signing deals with Manchester City, AC Milan, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, Cesc Fabregas and Marco Reus.

    Source: Marca

  • Neymar: Barcelona president says it is ‘unfeasible’ to sign Brazilian during Covid-19 pandemic

    It is “unfeasible” for Barcelona to re-sign Neymar from Paris St-Germain in the current economic climate, says the club’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

    A move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez has also been affected.

    Bartomeu told Spanish newspaper Sport that Barca generated 200m Euros less than expected between March and June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    “All the big European clubs are affected,” he said. “This isn’t going to last a year, but three or four.”

    Brazilian forward Neymar joined PSG for a world record 222m Euros (£199m) in August 2017 but Barcelona tried to re-sign the player last summer.

    “Neymar? In this situation, it’s unfeasible,” said Bartomeu. “Nor does PSG want to sell him.

    “Barca have spoken with Inter about Lautaro, but the talks have stopped. The situation doesn’t invite large investments.”

    Bartomeu went on to explain that Barcelona lost 200m euros between March and June. He added: “In the 2020-21 season we expected to post 1.1 bn euros, but we’ll have 30% of that.

    “If the situation of the pandemic doesn’t improve, there will be no spectators, no museum, no stores open, and money will continue to be lost.

    “It forces us to be very rigorous in management: we must review which investments are essential and which can wait.”

    Bartomeu also confirmed the club opened up disciplinary proceedings against midfielder Arthur, who is joining Juventus as part of a swap deal with Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic, after he failed to return to the club from holiday.

    “We reached the agreement that until the Champions League ended, he would continue playing for Barca. He could help us,” said Bartomeu, who has been Barca president since 2014.

    “But he didn’t return from his mini-break so we have opened a file on him.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Harry Kane: Tottenham will not sell striker to domestic rival this summer

    Tottenham Hotspur have no intention of letting striker Harry Kane leave the club this summer and would not sell to a domestic rival.

    Kane, 26, signed a six-year contract with Spurs in June 2018.

    Last month, he said he would not stay at the north London club “just for the sake of it”, and there are reports chairman Daniel Levy would be open to selling him for about £200m.

    Manchester United are long-time admirers of the England captain.

    Tottenham were one of the first Premier League clubs to furlough staff in response to the coronavirus pandemic, with Levy warning that “people need to wake up to the enormity” of the crisis.

    However, the club subsequently reversed that decision following criticism from supporters, with only board members now taking salary reductions.

    There are suggestions that because of financial worries, Levy would sanction Kane’s sale if the fee was in the region of the world record £200m Paris St-Germain paid Barcelona to sign Brazil forward Neymar in 2017.

    However, there is uncertainty over the summer transfer market given the present shutdown of football across Europe, with all the major clubs facing a financial headache.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Neymar welcome anytime at Barca – Suarez

    Neymar “will always be welcome” back at Barcelona, the Spanish giants’ striker Luis Suarez told Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday.

    Neymar left Barca in a world record move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 but has been persistently linked to a possible return to the Camp Nou.

    Suarez told the paper: “Everybody knows ‘Ney’, we all know the affection we have for him in the dressing room.

    “His ability is indisputable and he still has so much to show. He will always be welcome in the changing room, we appreciate him a lot.”

    Suarez, 33, recovering from right knee surgery, said it was “complicated” to talk about players joining Barca at this time of crisis with the coronavirus pandemic.

    “But I can talk about players, and these are huge players,” he commented when asked by the paper to discuss the rumours linking the 28-year-old Neymar with a Barca return.

    The Uruguayan also had warm words for Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, the 22-year-old Argentine whose name also been associated with a move to Catalonia.

    “Lautaro is a player who is progressing in Italy, he is a flexible centre-forward, with spectacular moves and that shows what a great a striker he is.”

    Questioned about how any eventual new signings would fit in Suarez said: “There will always be a healthy rivalry between us, and while we are all focused on the same objective, that is winning, any players who come in to help the team achieve its aims will always be welcome.”

    He then turned to last week’s deal with the club to cut players’ wages by 70%, with Barca captain Lionel Messi accusing the club of undermining the squad during negotiations.

    “There were some things that were said that were false, like that the players didn’t want to see their salaries reduced, that some were against it.

    “That they (club management) were saying that without being part of the squad was annoying. It annoyed all the players.”

    Suarez emphasised all the players were united from the start in wanting to help the club as much as possible.

    “The deal was delayed because it’s not easy to revoke the salary of 22-23 players.

    “It was worked out between the club and the players’ lawyers, but it wasn’t easy to do.”

    Source: France24

  • Neymar welcome anytime at Barca – Suarez

    Neymar “will always be welcome” back at Barcelona, the Spanish giants’ striker Luis Suarez told Mundo Deportivo on Wednesday.

    Neymar left Barca in a world record move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 but has been persistently linked to a possible return to the Camp Nou.

    Suarez told the paper: “Everybody knows ‘Ney’, we all know the affection we have for him in the dressing room.

    “His ability is indisputable and he still has so much to show. He will always be welcome in the changing room, we appreciate him a lot.”

    Suarez, 33, recovering from right knee surgery, said it was “complicated” to talk about players joining Barca at this time of crisis with the coronavirus pandemic.

    “But I can talk about players, and these are huge players,” he commented when asked by the paper to discuss the rumours linking the 28-year-old Neymar with a Barca return.

    The Uruguayan also had warm words for Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez, the 22-year-old Argentine whose name also been associated with a move to Catalonia.

    “Lautaro is a player who is progressing in Italy, he is a flexible centre-forward, with spectacular moves and that shows what a great a striker he is.”

    Questioned about how any eventual new signings would fit in Suarez said: “There will always be a healthy rivalry between us, and while we are all focused on the same objective, that is winning, any players who come in to help the team achieve its aims will always be welcome.”

    He then turned to last week’s deal with the club to cut players’ wages by 70%, with Barca captain Lionel Messi accusing the club of undermining the squad during negotiations.

    “There were some things that were said that were false, like that the players didn’t want to see their salaries reduced, that some were against it.

    “That they (club management) were saying that without being part of the squad was annoying. It annoyed all the players.”

    Suarez emphasised all the players were united from the start in wanting to help the club as much as possible.

    “The deal was delayed because it’s not easy to revoke the salary of 22-23 players.

    “It was worked out between the club and the players’ lawyers, but it wasn’t easy to do.”

    Source: France24

  • Woman charged with fraud in Neymar rape case

    Police in Brazil have charged a woman who accused the international footballer, Neymar, of raping her in a Paris hotel in May with perverting the course of justice.

    Najila Trindade and her former husband, Estivens Alves, have been accused of lying to police and attempting to blackmail the player.

    The Paris St-Germain player has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

    Ms Trindade’s lawyer said the indictment had taken him by surprise.

    Cosme Araújo rejected the police accusations and said his client had never colluded with Mr Alves to extort money from the Brazilian football star.

    Read:Chris Brown arrested in Paris after rape allegation

    ‘Consensual sex’
    The case dominated newspaper headlines in Brazil and abroad for several weeks.

    It first came to light in June, when the Paris St-Germain star released a seven minute video on Instagram revealing that he had been accused of rape.

    He also published Whatsapp messages and images that he claimed to be of the woman.

    In the video he says he had to make them public to “prove that nothing really happened”.

    He said they met online. He paid for her trip to France and they had consensual sex before Ms Trindade returned to Brazil and went to a police station to accuse him of attacking her.

    Read:Paris based model threatens to expose Black Star player Wakaso for dumping her after abortion

    Ms Trindade then went public, giving a television interview and releasing footage and a video clip purportedly showing an altercation between the two.

    Police later filed a defamation suit against Ms Trindade, who allegedly insinuated the force was corrupt, according to news agency AFP.

    Neymar denied the allegations from the beginning and said he was being extorted.

    Police closed the case at the end of July.

    The São Paulo attorney general’s office said the case was suspended due to a lack of evidence.

    Source: bbc.com