FOr if you’re two friends from different countries, a FIFA World Cup rivalry can be difficult. But if they are also players, the challenge seems even greater.
For this reason, Brazilian star Neymar Junior and young Spanish talent Lamine Yamal have decided to sign a contract in case the two teams meet in the final of the tournament.
friendship above all
Yamal and Barcelona most recently defeated Elche 3-1 on Saturday, January 31st, but the previous game continues to cause controversy. Hansi Flick’s side have progressed into the top eight of the Champions League thanks to a strong second half that saw them come from 0-1 down to win 4-1 against Copenhagen. Rafinha scored from the penalty spot, Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford each scored one goal as Azulgrana team won 4-1.
But it was Lamine Yamal’s celebration, where he imitated Neymar’s signature celebration by folding his arms, that stole the show.
“I remembered when Neymar went to PSG and played in the Champions League at the Parc des Princes. I wanted to have the same celebration at Camp Nou on a Champions League night,” he explained after the match, recalling the celebration against Liverpool in 2018.
Ney and Yamal vacationed together in June 2025, when the young Spaniard visited Rio de Janeiro and stayed at the Brazilian legend’s home in Mangaratiba. After the win, he commented that he had spoken to his current Santos FC player on FaceTime about returning to his friend’s home country, but he also revealed something even more interesting that shows the strength of their bond ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
I made a deal with Neymar: if Spain and Brazil meet in the World Cup final, we will go on holiday together.
The truth is, Spain will be in Group H (along with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay) and Brazil will be in Group C (along with Morocco, Haiti and Scotland), so both teams could potentially avoid each other until the virtual final on July 19th. For this reason, both teams decided to enter into an agreement ahead of the match to preserve their friendship above all else.
Will Neymar play in the 2026 World Cup?
However, although Neymar has expressed his desire to play in another tournament, his participation remains uncertain due to a long history of serious injuries and his current recovery process following knee surgery to treat a torn medial meniscus on December 22, 2025.
He has not played for the Brazilian national team since October 2023, when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus, and has yet to return to Santos.
This lack of competitive rhythm, combined with the fact that he will be 34 years old by the World Cup, could cause manager Carlo Ancelotti to drop him from consideration.
Only time will tell whether Neymar will wear Brazil colors at the tournament, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
