Copa America 2021 | Lionel Messi vs Neymar: Head to head before the final

The stage is set for a massive Copa America 2021 finalbetween two South American giants such as Argentina and Brazilin a new edition of one of soccer’sgreatest rivalries. However, the excitementis even higheras two of the best players on the planet will face off, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

The 34-year-old superstar will be looking for a highly desired prize with La Albiceleste to end a long drought, while the PSG figure seeks the title to redeem himself in the Copa America. It’s been a while, but these two will face each other again.

Messi and Neymar have met on the field as rivals before, but this will be the biggest game in which they’ll do it thus far, with a huge trophy on the line. Here, check out how many times they’ve faced before and how they’ve performed.

Lionel Messi vs. Neymar in club competition

Curiously, they have only faced each other once in a club competition. What’s even more surprising is that they haven’t met in a Champions League duel with Barcelona and PSG, but they did so in a Club World Cup final about ten years ago.

Messi in action during Barcelona’s 4-0 win over Santos in the 2011 Club World Cup final. (Getty)

That game took place in 2011when Neymar was making his first – but impressive – first steps with Santos, who won that year’s Copa Libertadores. Messi, meanwhile,already wasa world-renowned player that tasted European success only a few months earlier under Pep Guardiola‘s tenure. Barca comfortably won that game 4-0 with a brace from Messi and claimed the Club World Cup title.

Lionel Messi vs. Neymar in international soccer

However, Messi and Neymar clashed a few more timesin international games with their respective national teams. Their first game against eachothercame in 2010, with the Barca legend scoring a last-gasp winner to seal Argentina’s 1-0 win over Brazil in a friendly.

Messi and Neymar fighting for the ball in their last game against each other in 2016. (Getty)

In 2012, they’ve met again for a friendly, and Messi’s side claimed the victory againthanks to his impressive hat-trick in a4-3 thriller. Two years later, Brazil and Argentina once again clashed in a friendly but this time Dunga‘s boys won, giving Neymar his first triumph over Messi, who missed a penalty.

The last match between each other took place in 2016 for the World Cup Qualifying, in which Neymar scored his first goal playing against Messi to help Brazil punishing 3-0 Argentina. It’s been a long time, but the former Barca teammates will finally face off again with the Copa America 2021 trophy at stake.