Neymar knows Messi is ahead of him, claims Edmilson.

The veteran Selecao defender believes the former Santos starlet is well aware that he will have to play second fiddle to the Argentine

Brazil legend Edmilson claims compatriot Neymar is fully aware of the work that needs to be done before he can reach Lionel Messi's stature within in the game. 

The duo are set to partner one another in attack for Barcelona next season following the the 21-year-old Brazil international's switch to Camp Nou earlier this summer.

And Edmilson, who helped facilitate the youngster's move to Catalunya, believes Neymar's new team-mates will be pleasantly surprised at the humility of the Selecao star.

"People in the Barcelona dressing room will be surprised with the way he behaves, at how he listens to those who are better than him. He will not create any issues," Edmilson told reporters.

"Neymar is a very smart guy, he knows that Messi is ahead of him.

"Neymar is joyful, he is a tremendous guy. He and Messi are two great players with different characteristics.

"There is much talk of whether they can work together, with what Cruyff has said, people want to make trouble of a situation that has not even started yet."

The Blaugrana supporters could be given their first taste of the Neymar-Messi partnership for the club's Spanish Super Cup clash against Atletico Madrid in August.(Goal.com)

Rosell crows over 'rooster' Messi.

The Camp Nou supremo insists the Argentine remains their main man and discussed the difficult decision to allow Eric Abidal and David Villa to depart

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says that while the arrival of Neymar is a boost for the club, "there is only one rooster in the hen-house" in Lionel Messi.
The €57 million acquisition of the Brazil starlet lead to club legend Johan Cruyff to suggest that Messi should be sold as the duo would not be able to function well in the same side, but Rosell has shrugged off such a notion.

"There are not two roosters in the hen-house. There is one, and he is Messi," he told Catalan TV station8TV. "Now we've signed Neymar, a great player and a great person. There is no-one better than Messi, but Neymar comes to show he is a great player and can help Barca."

Neymar's arrival prompted the exit of Spain forward David Villa, who joined Atletico Madrid in a €5.1m deal, and Rosell believes the move was in the best interests of both clubs and the 31-year-old himself.

Ignorance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fans tainting a great rivalry.

The apparent hatred football fans have towards, either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, cannot be justified by their love of the other; club rivalries run deep but this often has nothing to do with the clubs they play for but is simply down to ridiculous personal preference; it is mere coincidence that they play for opposing El Clasico sides. We are witnessing two of the most outstanding footballers of our generation produce some of the greatest football ever seen yet it is often discredited by an ignorant and an ill-bred fan base.

Messi reveals Ronaldinho debt.

Barcelona: Lionel Messi has revealed his debt of gratitude to Ronaldinho for helping him through his early days at Barcelona.

The four-time Ballon d`Or winner made his Blaugrana debut back in 2004, a year after the Brazilian joined the club from Paris Saint-Germain and set about becoming a Camp Nou idol.

It is a time Messi has never forgotten and he admits the welcoming presence of Ronaldinho ensured his transition to the first team was a smooth one.

He told Barca TV: I`ve always said, since the first moment I walked in the locker room, Ronaldinho and other Brazilians, Deco, Sylvinho and [Thiago] Motta welcomed me and provided me things, but mostly he (Ronaldinho), and I learned a lot at his side."

"It was a big help. It`s never easy to go into a locker room as a teenager and Ronaldinho made everything easier. I was fortunate to live near him and share many things with him. I can say that he is a great person and that`s the most important thing."

Ronaldinho lifted two Liga titles and the Champions League during a five-year spell at Camp Nou and Messi believes the 33-year-old was the biggest sole influence behind that side`s success.

He continued: "Ronaldinho was responsible for changing the club. The club was going through a bad spell but it changed with his arrival. 

"During the first year we did not win anything but people loved him. Later came the titles and he made all those people happy. I believe that Barca should be forever grateful for everything he did."

The Brazil international eventually left the club for AC Milan in 2008, before joining Flamengo and then Atletico Mineiro in 2012.

Goal.com 

Messi and Neymar can play together, says Guardiola.

12 Jul 2013 19:55:00(goal.com)

The former Blaugrana boss believes two of the club's star players will be a success at Camp Nou ahead of the new season

Pep Guardiola is convinced Lionel Messi and Neymar will combine to devastating effect for Barcelona next season.

The Brazilian secured his move to Camp Nou earlier in the summer but it is unknown which role the 21-year-old will be given alongside Messi.

However, the Bayern Munich boss believes the duo will have "no problem" playing together at his former club.

He told Lance: "Barca have always had some of the best players in the world at their disposal, and Neymar and Messi are undoubtedly two of the best at the moment.

"I know Messi very well. He is a fantastic person as well as player. I have met Neymar too and he seems like a good lad and I'm sure they will have no problem playing together."

The 42-year-old believes his Spain will go into next summer's World Cup as favourites to retain their title - despite their 3-0 defeat to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final a fortnight ago.

He added: "It seemed perfectly normal to me that Spain lost [to Brazil]. They were physically better than us.

"But I believe that Spain are still favourites going into the World Cup."

Neymar is set to make his competitive debut for Barcelona against Levante on August 18.

English exam paper in Morocco have a whole question about Messi!

In Morocco the English Question Paper was prepared on all about Messi. This is a great virtue for the living legend.

Fans fume at Messi no-show after paying £1,700 to meet Barcelona star.

Lionel Messi's disastrous tour of the US has suffered another blow after fans were left fuming by a supposed 'VIP experience' before his latest match for charity in Chicago.

Messi has already received some heat in America for cancelling a match in Los Angeles at the last minute which left one of the sponsors saying it was a "blatant attempt to defraud American citizens."

The latest 'Lionel Messi and Friends' match in Chicago struggled to capture the imagination of the public as the promoters struggled to fill out the teams – players from the local university were hauled in to make up the numbers – and the goal of the game was scored by a financial analyst.

Lionel Messi scores four in charity match.(With Highlights).

Chicago:  Lionel Messi gave fans a show with four goals to lead his all-star team to a 9-6 victory in Saturday night's Messi & Friends vs. the Rest of the World soccer exhibition.

Messi played into the 69th minute and left the game to a mixture of cheers and boos from the 25,000 fans at Soldier Field.

The game was the only U.S. appearance in a series of fundraisers for Messi-affiliated charities.

Originally a four-game series, two games were played in South America, but Wednesday's contest in Los Angeles was canceled after Messi declined to play in a dispute with promoters.

The game was to feature up to 35 international stars, but attracted half that. Nine former Northwestern University players helped filled out the rosters.

Former Wildcats forward Matt Eliason had the game's most dramatic goal, scoring on a bicycle kick in the 20th minute.

HIGHLIGHTS

Most three from Argentina in the All Time Greatest-XI OF Football History-By World Soccer.

All Time Greatest XI

Goalkeeper: Lev Yashin (USSR)

Defenders: Cafu (Brazil), Bobby Moore (England), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), Paolo Maldini (Italy)

Midfielders:  Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina), Johan Cruyff (Holland), Zinedine Zidane (France), Maradona (Argentina)

Forwards: Pele (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The Real Madrid superstar missed out following a vote from reporters, former coaches and ex-players from across the globe.

Ronaldo’s great rival, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, wins a spot alongside other attacking greats Pele and Diego Maradona.

Ronaldo was the most notable omission from current players – although Neymar is showing nascent signs that he might one day crack the team – but others not considered include Thierry Henry, Eusebio and George Best.

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel and Italian Dino Zoff were overlooked for Lev Yashin of the Soviet union – a penalty saver whose record of 150 stopped spot kicks leaves Mark Schwarzer in the shade.

Bobby Moore, partners Franz Beckenbauer in the centre of a star-studded defence that boasts Brazil’s Cafu at right back and five-time European Cup winner Paulo Maldini at left back.

A front five of Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff and Messi is enough to give defenders nightmares for the rest of their careers.

Result and Highlights of Messi's Charity Match-2.

Messi(2), Lavezzi(2),Alves(1), Neymar(1) and more in Video link.
Messi&Friends 8-5 Rest of World Highlights.

If u missed the game watch now-Messi's Charity Match-1.

Messi and Friends vs Rest of the World 1-0 ( Messi goal 5′)
Messi and Friends vs Rest of the World 2-0 ( Angel goal 14′)
Messi & Friends Rest of the World 3-0 ( Malouda goal 16′)
Messi and Friends Rest of the World 4-0 ( Aimar goal 21′)
Messi and Friends The World 4-1 ( Jackson goal 22′)
Messi and Friends Rest of the World 5-1 ( Angel goal 26′)
Messi and Friends v Rest of the World 5-1 ( Angel goal 35′)
Messi & Friends vs the World 6-2 ( Bapista goal 42′)
Messi & Friends vs the World 6-3 ( Robinho goal 47′)
Messi & Friends vs the World 6-4 ( Bapista goal 51′)
Messi & Friends Rest of the World 7-4 ( Malouda goal 56′)
Messi & Friends vs the World 7-5 ( James Rodriguez 68′)
Messi and Friends vs Rest of the World 8-5 ( Aimar goal 82′)
Messi and Friends vs Rest of the World 9-5 ( Dorian Pabon goal 89′)
Messi & Friends vs the World 9-6 ( Robinho goal 90+1′)
Messi& Friends 9: 6 Rest of the World Highlights.