Paris Saint-Germain striker Neymar Jr. is the leader of the Brazilian attacking group. The 30-year-old has two FIFA World Cup tournaments under his belt and the young players will rely on them to be their guide as Brazil hope to end their 20-year drought.
In an interview with CNN Brazil, Real Madrid star Vini Jr. explicitly commented Neymar has been with some of the young players in attack, like himself, his teammate with WhitesArsenal’s Rodrygo and Gabriel Martinelli.
All three are in their early twenties, so Neymar is like their big brother in the team and for Vini Jr., playing alongside PSG at the World Cup in Qatar is a dream given he followed the career of his Brazilian teammate.
“I think for us it’s a dream, right? Vini Jr. told the outlet. “Me, Rodrygo, Martinelli, the young players we saw Neymar start at Santos and being here with him and being able to share a dressing room with him, sharing being on the pitch with him is always important.
“Of course, he’s our crack, our best player and the one who reassures young people the most. I think he went through a lot when he was young. Playing from an early age, having the pressure from an early age and helping us is very important, and he knows that by helping us he can also help a lot to make a great World Cup, and that’s good for us and good for the Brazilian people.
Brazil will be the last team to arrive for the World Cup, in Qatar. Neymar, a reference for young athletes, was recalled in a press release by striker Vinicius Júnior, 22, who is still wondering for a place in the first team. #CNNSábadoTarde pic.twitter.com/6HYsJhfjHc
— CNN Brazil (@CNNBrasil) November 19, 2022
Vini Jr. isn’t alone with his remarks about playing alongside Neymar as a comrade Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo’s son recently declared that it is an « honor » that he shares the pitch alongside the PSG star once the world cup has been created.
« First of all, I would like to say it’s an honor to play with him, » Rodrygo told reporters. « He’s my idol. I have always seen him play and he has always been a leader in the national team.
“It was already the case when he was at Santos. He has incredible talent. He transmits a lot of confidence to the young players of the team. He’s a fantastic guy; brings so much quality and confidence to this group.
If Neymar can lead the attack and the Brazilian squad to end the 20-year World Cup drought, he’s a self-imposed problem among the South American nation’s greats.