Brazilian football star Neymar has revealed that Kylian Mbappé felt “jealous” of Lionel Messi following the Argentine’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021.
Speaking on a podcast hosted by legendary striker Romário, Neymar shared insights into his relationship with Mbappé and the dynamics at PSG during Messi’s time at the club. When asked if Mbappé, who recently transferred to Real Madrid, was “annoying,” Neymar responded:
“No, he’s not. We had our moments, a little disagreement, but he was crucial for us when he joined. I called him ‘Golden Boy.’ We were close, shared dinners, and had a good partnership. But after Messi arrived, he felt a bit jealous. He didn’t want to share me with anyone, and that led to some tension and a change in behavior.”
Neymar also addressed how big egos impacted PSG’s performance in high-stakes matches. “Egos are fine, but football is a team sport. You can’t win alone. If no one runs or helps, it’s impossible to achieve success,” he said.
Reflecting on his decision to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid, Neymar expressed no regrets. “I followed my heart to Barça. I always wanted to play with Messi and admired the club since Ronaldinho’s era. Choosing Barcelona was an emotional decision, not a rational one. Real Madrid and Barcelona were both calling me, but my heart spoke louder,” he explained.
Neymar and Mbappé both joined PSG in 2017, Neymar from Barcelona and Mbappé from AS Monaco, forming a formidable partnership that faced its share of challenges, including the arrival of football legend Lionel Messi.
