Brazilian forward and playmaker Neymar has called his Latin American football counterpart Lionel Messi\u00a0as “the biggest and best in history,” following Saturday’s Copa America\u00a0final where Argentina edged out their fiercest, traditional rivals Brazil to come came out on top.<\/p>\n
Neymar, who played with Messi at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017 before he joined Paris Saint-Germain, emotionally hugged the Argentina captain after Brazil\u2019s 1-0 loss at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n
Neymar, who did not play in Brazil’s squad that won the Copa America on home soil in 2019 due to injury, wrote on social media:<\/p>\n
“Losing hurts me, it hurts me… it’s something I haven’t learned to live with yet. When I lost, I went to give a hug to the biggest and best in history<\/em> that I saw playing.<\/p>\n “My friend and brother MESSI, I was sad and I told him: ‘You beat me.’ I’m very sad for having lost. But this guy is awesome! I have great respect for what he has done for football and especially for me. I HATE TO LOSE!!!! But enjoy your title, football was waiting for you for that moment! CONGRATULATIONS HERMANO\u00a0<\/em>(brother).”<\/p>\n It was Argentina’s first major title in 28 years, one that allowed Messi to finally win his first international competition after four excruciating defeats in major finals.<\/p>\n Messi, a six-time Ballon d’Or winner, was voted the player of the tournament after his four goals and five assists in the competition.<\/p>\n The Argentina squad was accorded a fitting heroes\u2019 welcome as their plane touched down at Buenos Aires on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n The Copa America was originally scheduled to be staged in Argentina and Colombia but was moved instead to Brazil by CONMEBOL two weeks before the start of the tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic worsening in both nations.<\/p>\n A jubilant Messi thanked God for him being Argentinian and remembered the late Diego Maradona in an emotional message he posted on Instagram:<\/p>\n