Neymar Discloses He Taught Lionel Messi a Key Skill That Helped Him Win the World Cup
- Neymar has disclosed that he once taught Lionel Messi how to take penalties during their time together at Barcelona
- The Brazilian star recalled Messi asking him for advice on spot kicks, which surprised him given the Argentine’s legendary status
- Neymar believes his guidance may have helped Messi improve his penalty-taking ability, which proved crucial in Argentina’s World Cup triumph
Brazilian football star Neymar Junior has disclosed that he once taught Lionel Messi how to take penalty kicks.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, has won eight Ballon d'Or titles, the World Cup, multiple Champions League trophies, and domestic league titles with Barcelona and PSG.
Source: Getty Images
Despite his incredible dribbling, playmaking, and goal-scoring abilities, the Argentine struggled at times with converting penalties, even though he remained the primary taker for both club and country.
Seeking to improve, the diminutive playmaker turned to the Brazilian superstar for advice on perfecting his penalty technique.
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Neymar shared on the Podpah podcast that Messi once approached him during a training session at Barcelona, asking for tips on how to take penalties more effectively.
Known for his composed and technical approach to spot kicks, the Santos star was initially surprised by Messi’s request.
“I helped Messi take penalties! We were in training, he asked me…’How do you take penalties like that?’
“I was like, ‘Are you crazy? You’re Messi! If I can do it, you can too,’” Neymar recalled.
A lesson from Neymar to Messi
Despite his disbelief, Neymar took the time to guide Messi, who then practiced and refined his penalty-taking skills based on his teammate’s advice.
This revelation highlights how even the greatest players continuously seek to improve their game and learn from one another.
Neymar, renowned for his composed and technically brilliant penalty-taking style, was taken aback by Messi’s request for advice.
However, despite Messi’s iconic status, Neymar shared his approach, and the Argentine diligently practiced based on his guidance, per Marca.
This offers a fascinating glimpse into the strong bond and mutual respect between the two South American superstars, who shared the pitch at both Barcelona and PSG.
While Messi has successfully converted many high-pressure penalties in his career, Neymar’s influence highlights that even the greatest players continuously strive to improve their skills.
Messi’s growth as a penalty taker
Throughout his career, Lionel Messi has faced both praise and criticism for his penalty-taking ability.
While he has converted crucial spot kicks in high-stakes matches like the World Cup and Champions League, he has also missed some key attempts.
Neymar's guidance may have played a role in boosting Messi's confidence from the spot, particularly in the later stages of his career.
Source: Getty Images
As two of the most technically gifted players in modern football, Neymar and Messi shared a close bond that extended beyond the pitch.
This intriguing insight from their training sessions underscores the humility and relentless dedication that even the greatest players continue to uphold.
Neymar's bond with Lionel Messi
YEN.com.gh earlier reported Neymar's revelation about his close relationship with Lionel Messi that left ex-PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe jealous.
The trio played together at PSG before going their separate ways, with Messi heading to Inter Miami, Neymar to Al-Hilal, and Mbappe to Real Madrid.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
