Lionel Messi, the Argentine captain and Inter Miami superstar, has offered an emphatic endorsement of his former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar, advocating for the Brazilian’s inclusion in the upcoming World Cup despite the 34-year-old’s injury-plagued recent history.
In an interview with Pollo Álvarez on the Lo del Pollo show, Messi acknowledged his inability to offer an objective assessment of a player he considers a close friend—but that lack of objectivity, he suggested, only reinforced his conviction.
“We want the best players to be there at the World Cup, and Neymar, no matter his form, will always be one of them,” Messi said.
Beyond the Brazil-Argentina Rivalry
While Argentina and Brazil share one of international football’s most intense rivalries, Messi made clear that personal relationships transcend national boundaries.
“It would be wonderful to see him at the World Cup because of what he means to Brazil and to football,” Messi told Álvarez. “I hope he can be there, but I can’t be objective, because he always has to be there. Obviously, I’d love for him to be at the World Cup, for good things to happen to him because he deserves it for the kind of person he is. And I hope he can be there.”
Neymar’s Perilous Path to 2026
The road to a fourth World Cup appearance remains uncertain for Neymar, who has not represented Brazil since 2023 due to a succession of injuries and fitness concerns.
Currently captaining his boyhood club Santos in Brazil’s Série A, Neymar has been limited to just eight matches in 2026. A minor knee surgery in late December was followed by another procedure in March, restricting his statistical output to three goals and two assists this season.
His injury history is extensive. An ankle ailment hampered his final days at Paris Saint-Germain, and a torn anterior cruciate ligament curtailed his brief stint with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Since returning to Santos—where he first emerged as a professional from 2009 to 2013—he has sought to recapture the form that once made him football’s most expensive player.
Messi on the Neymar He Knows
Beyond the medical reports and fitness assessments, Messi emphasized the human dimension of his former teammate.
“He has a very special charisma,” Messi said. “He doesn’t put on an act. He lives his life as it is, according to what he feels without worrying about the repercussions. He lives his life, he’s happy, and he’s very natural.”
The Stakes for Brazil
Neymar has been a fixture of the Brazilian national team since 2013, appearing in three World Cups. His absence from the squad for nearly three years has left a creative void that Brazil manager Dorival Júnior has struggled to fill consistently.
Whether Neymar can overcome his latest knee setbacks to feature in the World Cup remains an open question. But with Lionel Messi—perhaps the most qualified judge of footballing excellence in the modern era—publicly lending his support, the campaign for Neymar’s inclusion has gained an influential voice.
Contributor Jacque Ojadidi
Courtesy Photo –Field Level Media
