"It makes me sad when I see someone talking badly about him" - Real Madrid ace Rodrygo on his liking for ex-Barcelona star
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo expressed his admiration for Barcelona star Neymar Jr in a recent interview during international duty. He admitted that it hurt him when critics questioned his national teammate's personality.
Rodrygo is currently on international duty with Brazil for their 2026 World Cup qualifiers. He scored the only goal in Brazil's 1-0 win over Ecuador on Saturday, September 7.
Neymar Jr is not part of the national team's squad for the qualifiers as he is out injured. Fans will have to wait till November to see the tricky forward in action after he suffered a setback during his recovery.
His injury concerns are well documented with some fans questioning his dedication to the game.
Speaking to ESPN Brazil, the 23-year-old Madrid star highlighted his admiration for the Al-Hilal forward, admitting that he gets sad when Neymar gets criticism.
"It makes me sad when I see someone talking badly about him because of his personality," admitted the Real Madrid ace (via Madrid Universal).
Despite Neymar Jr's association with Barcelona, the Real Madrid forward called him his idol and spoke about the bond they both share.
"I always exchange messages with Neymar, and now he’s back training with the group. He always sends me messages of support, I love him," Rodrygo stated.
"In addition to being my idol as a player, he has shown as a person that he is a great person," he added.
Neymar recently showed his support for Rodrygo after the Real Madrid forward was snubbed from the Ballon d'Or nominations. The 32-year-old shared a picture of his international teammate in action with the caption, "At least top 5 in the world. Crack," mocking the decision to not include Rodrygo in the 30-player shortlist.
"Ex-Barcelona star is Brazil's idol" - Real Madrid's Rodrygo
The former Barcelona star last featured for Brazil against Uruguay in October 2023 when he tore his knee ligaments. He has been out of action for club and country since then.
Rodrygo was asked if the national team misses Neymar, to which he replied (via Madrid Universal):
"He is our idol and our best player."
Neymar missed the 2024 Copa America, where Brazil were knocked out by Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-final. Rodrygo admitted that the team missed him, saying that Neymar's influence is pivotal for Brazil to enjoy success at international tournaments such as the World Cup.
"To win the World Cup, everyone must be ready to help him. He is in good health, that is what we hope for," Rodrygo admitted.
Neymar will be 34 by the time the next World Cup comes calling. It is scheduled to be played in North America in 2026 from June 11 to July 19. Keeping the Barcelona legend fit will be critical to Brazil's chances at winning the tournament for the sixth time in their history.