World Cup: Brazil's Neymar living childhood dream
Sky Sports News' Geraint Hughes reports from Fortaleza, where the hosts' golden boy keeps his cool in the heat of Brazil - and battle - as his side prepare for their quarter final with Colombia.
Thursday 3 July 2014 09:24, UK
"I've told you already, I'm fine!"
Neymar was laughing his way through another question about his fitness. He knew he'd be asked several times about it, but he found it amusing that reporters kept on asking him.
I won't take the high ground here, I didn't ask as I'd already seen he was fine. At training he was the proverbial spring chicken, on the tips of his toes, dancing around the pitch.
The ice pack which had been wrapped around his right knee on previous days was gone, the physio's work was done and to the relief of Luiz Felipe Scolari and 200 million brazilians Neymar is back up and running. It was obvious.
Nevertheless the insatiable Brazilian media had to ask the question... albeit 23 times.
So much has been debated about the pressure on Neymar's shoulders, yet now for the first time the one who could be affected by it or inspired by it had the chance to say his bit.
Again his answer belied his years, saying that it was his dream as a child to play at a World Cup after watching Ronaldo in 1998 and 2002. Now he's here living that dream so it's not really pressure, he wanted it.
He also went onto explain how much his family help him and in particular his father before he plays. Since he was five Neymar's dad has always spoken to his son not long before he goes out on to the pitch, it's a calming voice that clears the negative thoughts and allows Neymar to play with clarity and joy.
That's key to his success, playing football while happy. If he is not happy, what's the point?
Neymar is also aware of the people of Brazil's current predicament - its unhappiness with government corruption and the wasting of money.
Last year he told us that the team were urging the people to show their disapproval by protesting, but to do it peacefully, now at the World Cup he said he thought the situation was slightly better, but that it was his job to try and help Brazil win the World Cup as all he wanted was the country to either smile or cry with joy.
For a 22-year-old footballer earning millions a year, untold wealth compared with the majority of Brazilians, he appears remarkably in touch. Come Friday, 200m Brazilians will only worry that he's in touch on the football pitch.
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