Neymar Jr: ‘The English created football, but Brazil is the country of football’ (2024)

Greatness. What does it take to be among a handful of the best people in the world at something? By definition most of us will never know. But what it takes to be among the very best in the world at something that is every young man’s dream is a whole other story. Whether it’s a ‘gift’ or a result of discipline, hard work and that almost-indefinable quality we call talent, the range of things that have to coincide for you to become one of the best football players in the world is staggering when you think about it.

Neymar Jr is already a legend in his own time: the second-highest goal scorer for the Brazilian national team ever, behind only someone called Edson Pelé. The most expensive player of all time and an obvious and absolute joy to watch. At 5’9” and a slight 68kg, Neymar reminds us that football is still the beautiful game, a game where skill and finesse will always outweigh raw athletic power.

Watching Neymar do skills on the pitch, it’s easy to forget that these are the best people in the world he is competing against. Having played at a pretty decent standard myself, I perhaps have a better grasp than most on just how good these guys are. I try to imagine the fear of a defender going into a game against Neymar, knowing that there is a high chance that you are going to end up as a meme or part of one of his many YouTube highlights reels because he did some insane skill that made you twist your ankle and fall on your arse.

It is that finesse, the sheer joy with which Brazilians play the game that has made them most fans’ (second!) favourite national team. It’s like you can see the infusion of smiles and sand and dancing, and – for those that know Brazil – pain and hardship that have gone into creating their unique style.

It was those qualities of joy and samba that made so many of us so sad back in 2014, as we watched Neymar Jr wince in pain after being kneed in the back. I knew almost instantly that he was going to miss the final of what seemed destined to be his World Cup. I felt for him: how does a player bounce back from that? I and everyone else around the world mourned that we would not get to see Neymar in that final.

After a disappointing 2018, whether or not Brazil can prove they are still among the footballing giants in 2022 will depend in no small part on the lad from São Paulo’s Mogi das Cruzes neighbourhood. I still can’t believe that I got to interview Neymar Jr. In spite of all his achievements, his humility and warmness exuded… albeit through a screen.

I have played for a number of professional clubs in the UK. I played for West Ham when I was at school and there was a stage I got to where I realised, playing with other players who made it to the Premier League, that I was good but I wasn't that good. Was there a time where it really dawned on you that you had the potential to be one of the best players in the world?

I didn't want to be better than anybody else – I wanted to give the best I could. For instance, one season I scored 30 goals, and the next one I wanted to score 40. I knew that my status was different to others on the team, though. I knew that I was better than the other players because I had talent. Thank God for giving me this opportunity to be the best player I can be.

Brazil has given world football so many classic World Cup winning sides. I think for every football fan around the world, Brazil is their second favourite team – mine included. Do you have a favourite non-Brazilian World Cup team and why?

There’s not a team that I like the most, but I’m always watching for individual players. When I was young I loved to watch football because of Zidane, Lampard, Rooney, Beckham – those are the kinds of players I like.

Do you have a favourite game you’ve played in your career? Is there one game where you felt ‘I'm absolutely at my best today’? When you're just in the zone.

Every game is special; I have so many important games and important titles. But the game against Atalanta last season was so good; I was so happy – it was an emotional game. For the Brazilian [World Cup] selection, at the beginning, the first game against United States was very important for me because I scored. At Santos FC [in Brazil], winning the Copa Libertadores [South America’s annual continent-wide tournament]. And at Barcelona, when we won the Champions League. So every team has an important moment for me.

Is there a way you prepare for games, or any rituals you have? With me, I had to go to the bathroom before the game. I know this is not information everybody wants to know. Is there something you do to prepare for each game?

I don’t have a specific ritual. It's different for each game. When I play at home [with PSG], at Le Parc des Princes, I do things before leaving the house, like different treatments, and I listen to music in my bedroom. Different days, I’ll listen to different kinds of music, it depends on my mood that day. And when I get to that stadium, I try to be a nice person, make everyone laugh – and just be good vibes to make the best atmosphere for the team.

Makes sense to be a good dressing room player. I've heard through the grapevine that you're a huge lover of music. Do you have a favourite genre and favourite artist, or some Brazilian music maybe that you'd recommend that people check out?

My favourite is pagode [a subgenre of samba]. I also like Brazilian funk, hip-hop, reggaeton… I’m pretty eclectic.

In England we love football but in Brazil, they love football – I spent four months there and really felt that. Why do you think that love for football is so deep in Brazil?

The English created football, but Brazil is the country of football. Everybody plays football when they’re young, whether they become professional or just play with their friends, everyone has that passion. It’s an emotional thing for Brazilian people.

Tell us more about the Instituto Neymar Jr and some of the charitable work you do – what are your aims with that work and what are some of the highlights?

It was an idea that I came up with together with my parents. It was a dream of my family. So when things started going well for us we created the institute. It’s one of the best goals I’ve scored in my career! I’m so glad to see children and their families happy and smiling. But I’m a little bit sad at the moment – the institute’s been closed for a year, because of the pandemic. I’m praying for everything to get back to normal as soon as possible.

What are some of your other aims, both on and off the pitch?

In a professional way I want to win the World Cup. That’s always been the biggest dream of my career. But also I want to win every title with PSG – the Champions League, the Coupe de France. I’m almost 30, and I have a good career, but on a personal level I want to have two more kids, to give my son, David, some brothers.

I was recently watching a show called Money Heist and in the middle of the show, I said, ‘Hold on, that's Neymar!’ How did that come about and are we going to be seeing you in more films or TV shows?

I’m just an extroverted person – I did a lot of TV commercials back in Brazil and I’ve received lots of invitations to be on TV shows back home. I was really happy to act in [2017 action movie] xXx: Return Of Xander Cage, and it was around the same time that I shot Money Heist. It's not the main direction that I want for my career, but it’s fun to be part of it, and it’s great to work alongside actors and to get to know a world that I usually don’t get to be part of.

You also have a reputation for being very into fashion. How would you describe the Neymar fashion style?

I’d say that my fashion style is a lot of different things. Sometimes I put on more understated clothes, and sometimes I get creative. I like to create different looks, but it depends on the mood of the day, just like how my music taste varies. If I have the mindset, I’ll push myself to dress more ‘fashion’, but other days I’ll be more simple.

The Summer 2021 issue of GQ Style is out on newsstands and via the GQ Style app on Thursday 13 May.

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