Neymar has claimed that Lionel Messi’s arrival at Paris Saint-Germain led to “jealousy” and “a change in behaviour” from Kylian Mbappe, adding that “egos” stopped the team from achieving success.
Messi’s move to Paris on a free transfer in August 2021 completed a sparkling frontline with Mbappe and Neymar, but the much-celebrated trio struggled to gel together.
Neymar, now on the books with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, described in an interview with Brazil great Romario how the dynamic changed in the dressing room following Messi’s arrival from Barcelona.
When asked by Romario if Mbappe is “annoying,” Neymar said: “No, he is not. I have my things with him, we had a little fight, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived.
“I used to call him golden boy. I always played with him; I said he was going to be one of the best. I always helped, talked to him, he came to my place, we had dinner together.
“We had some good years of partnership, but after Messi came he was a little jealous.
“He didn’t want to split me with anyone. And then there were some fights, a change in behaviour.”
Assembling one of the most expensive and talented forward lines ever seen did not lead to the desired success for PSG, who failed to claim their maiden UEFA Champions League title.
Mbappe departed PSG last summer to complete a long-touted move to Real Madrid, while Messi is now in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
“It is good to have egos, but you have to know that you don’t play alone,” Neymar said.
“There needs to be another guy by your side. [Big] egos were almost everywhere, it can’t work. If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything.”
Neymar, 32, has only featured twice for Al Hilal in an injury-plagued 2024/25 season.
The Brazilian’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a return to Brazil, which he did not rule out, and a move to MLS, with Chicago Fire among the clubs linked.
Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France and two Coupe de la Ligue during a six-year spell in Paris, but a runners-up finish in 2019/20 was as close as he got to Champions League glory with the French side.
He joined Al Hilal in the summer of 2023, but an ACL injury in October that year ended his season and he is yet to return to full fitness, having suffered further injuries since recovering.