When PSG brought together Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi, the football world was jumping with excitement.
This trio was expected to dominate the European scene, especially in the Champions League.
However, what began as a promising partnership between Neymar and Kylian Mbappe quickly evolved into something more complicated, especially after Messi’s arrival.
In a recent interview, Neymar opened up about how his relationship with Mbappe changed over the years and what led to their falling out.
Neymar talks About Kylian Mbappe and Messi

In an interview with Romario on his YouTube channel, Neymar reflected on his initial bond with Kylian Mbappe. ‘We had good years together,’ Neymar shared.
“Mbappe is not annoying. I have my things with him, we argued a bit, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived. I called him ‘Golden Boy.’ I always played with him, I said he was going to be one of the best. I always helped him, I talked to him, he came to my place, we dined together.”
However, things began to change when Lionel Messi joined the team. Neymar revealed that after Messi’s arrival, Mbappe started to feel jealous, leading to several disputes and a noticeable shift in behavior.
Neymar pointed out, “It’s good to have egos, but you have to know that you can’t control them. You can’t play alone. You need someone by your side.
“There are oversized egos almost everywhere; it can’t work like that. If no one runs, and no one helps, it’s impossible to win anything.”
Neymar’s motivation and the PSG move
Reflecting on his move from Barcelona to PSG in 2017, Neymar also shed light on his reasons for leaving the Catalan giants.
“My motivation wasn’t to win individual awards,” Neymar explained. “I didn’t leave Barca thinking I was going to be the best in the world. There were other personal reasons.”
Neymar went on to share how Messi had urged him to stay at Barcelona, promising to make him the best in the world.
Despite this, Neymar’s decision was influenced by financial factors and the presence of Brazilian players at PSG, including Thiago Silva and Marquinhos. “Of course, financially, PSG was much better than Barcelona,” he admitted.
Neymar further expressed that his peak moment in football came during his time at PSG.
“Playing like I did at PSG, I would certainly have won the Ballon d’Or. But I had those injuries, and they eventually hurt me,” he shared, acknowledging that his career might have turned out differently had it not been for his injury setbacks.