Sports Desk:

Brazilian superstar Neymar has shared a fascinating story about helping his Argentine counterpart, Lionel Messi, refine his penalty-taking skills.

During a recent appearance on the Podpah podcast, Neymar recalled a surprising moment from their time together at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017, when Messi turned to him for advice on penalties.

“I was like, ‘Are you serious? You’re Messi! If I can do it, you can too.’ So, I showed him how I take them, and he practised.”

Now back at his boyhood club Santos after an underwhelming spell at Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar’s revelation offers an unexpected insight into his partnership with Messi at Barcelona. The 33-year-old formed part of a star-studded attacking trio alongside Messi and Luis Suárez, making history with their prolific goal-scoring exploits.