Luca Caioli

elia María Cuccittini Oliveira de Messi

a bola is like the most jealous woman in the world. If you do not treat her well, she will not love you and she can even hurt you. I love her to bits.’

Nadine remembers that he used to sleep with a ball. After only a few years, Neymar had collected no fewer than 54 balls in his room

Betinho gets up to explain a fundamental concept, starting with music, in particular the samba. ‘When I used to put samba music on, I would see him move, gyrate, dance as he did when he had the ball at his feet.’

without this movement of the hips and legs, you cannot become a great Brazilian footballer. He continues, ‘Neymar at that time did the ginga movement.’

It is the spirit and identity of Brazilian football.

‘He was a happy little boy, always cheery, always smiling. He had a nice way about him. He was good at school and he liked studying. He got on well with adults and classmates alike. He was friends with everyone and a born leader