Neymar Says Lionel Messi Saved Star's Barcelona Career

Neymar has revealed how team-mate Lionel Messi helped him when he was struggling to adapt to life at Barcelona after moving to the Catalan club from Santos in 2013. 

The Brazilian star is now thriving at Barcelona having won two La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League with the club, and he has established himself as one of the best players in the world.

However, seemingly things were not always so easy for Neymar at the Camp Nou.

The 24-year-old has revealed he struggled initially to adapt to life in Barcelona, but a few words from the Argentina international made a lot of difference, per CNN (via ESPN FC):

"

I have a nice story about Messi. 

Soon after I arrived, it was not a great moment in my career and he was the one who helped me. He saw that I was sad, with my head down, that things were not going right for me. 

He told me to keep going, to be happy and to play the way I know. He told me this and he helped me a lot at that moment in time. 

He is a person who I admire a lot.

"

Along with Luis Suarez, Neymar and Messi have formed arguably the most devastating attacking trio in the world at Barcelona.

The threesome have netted a remarkable number of goals between them since they have been playing together, per Now TV Sport:

Neymar had a lot of expectation on his shoulders when he moved to Barca as a 21-year-old after he had long been linked with the Blaugrana, as well as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, per BBC Sport.

It took him some time to adapt to the Spanish game and mature as a player, but he is now one of the top stars in Europe. 

He, Suarez and Messi enjoy an excellent relationship both on and off the pitch, with Neymar saying the trio have "a great friendship," per CNN.

Clearly Messi had a big impact on Neymar when he first moved to the Camp Nou, and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner can be credited with helping the Brazilian become the player he has.