Neymar Jr. recently spoke about the two seasons he experienced playing alongside Lionel Messi. The 31-year-old described their challenges, even using the word “hell” during his interview with Brazilian outlet O Globo.
After Messi won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there were rumors that Paris Saint-Germain would like to extend him. However, after crashing out of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 and barely winning the 2022–23 Ligue 1 title, the Ligue 1 giants opted to allow Messi to leave as a free agent.
Messi’s time in Paris ended with no proper send-off, which the Brazilian didn’t appreciate.
“Messi left [PSG] in a way that, for football, he did not deserve that,” Neymar said. “For everything he is, everything he does, anyone who knows him knows, he’s a guy who trains, who fights, if he loses, he gets angry, and he was unfairly charged in my view.
“But at the same time, I was very happy that he won the World Cup. As you said, football was fair this time. Since the Brazilian team left, Messi deserved to end his career like this.”
Messi has been vocal about his unhappiness in Paris during the two seasons he played there. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner noted his desire to remain at FC Barcelona before being forced to leave in 2021 due to the Spanish club’s financial situation.
Furthermore, winning the World Cup against France was always awkward. Nonetheless, Neymar and Messi’s departures worked out for PSG in the end, as it allowed them to go in a different direction. Meanwhile, Messi is thriving at Inter Miami, and Neymar should succeed in Saudi Arabia.
